As for the ratings: correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't VII released when (at the time) Squaresoft was doing badly? I thought they were close to going bankrupt and were saved because of the success of VII? I could totally wrong on this one but meh *shrugs*
I could be wrong but I don't think so. Squaresoft were doing really badly before FF1. Hence the name 'final fantasy' because they pretty much thought it would be the last game they'd make, because they were nearly dead. So I think it's FF1 you're thinking of, not VII.