LogFAQs > #972169999

FFX doesn't encourage grinding at all until the post-game content. In fact, if you want the right amount of challenge, you shouldn't grind at all. You'll reach the end of each character's Sphere Grid around Zanarkand, and then it opens up for post-game, so if anything, it's perfectly structured to be played without grinding.

It does encourage you to use every character in every battle, but it's honestly not that difficult to do.

Now if you want a game that encourages you to break the battle system, that's FFVIII, but that's a positive, not a negative.