[vsp]

Your ex is out of his mind. There are reasons to buy a GameCube, but the FF series is not one of them.

FF: Crystal Chronicles is a significant departure from the "main" FF series. It may end up being a good game, but it's definitely not a CGI-heavy RPG epic like the FF games that you've enjoyed. If you're going to buy a GameCube, do it because you really, really enjoy the "franchise" titles (Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Mario Kart, etc.), not for a wild card that won't be out until well after Christmas.

(EDIT: I bought a Cube for my wife several months ago, but for a different reason... shoot-the-zombie games (Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero), which she loves. Depending on how old your kids are and how you feel about violent entertainment, those exclusives may not be as attractive.)

That said, there are _tons_ of quality games available for the PlayStation family, particularly when it comes to RPGs.

PS1:
Final Fantasies 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Final Fantasy Tactics (an awesome strategy RPG).
Chrono Trigger.
Chrono Cross.
Star Ocean: The Second Story. (Huge recommendation.)
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. (Likewise.)
Arc the Lad Collection.
Dragon Warrior VII.
Grandia.
Legend of Legaia.
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete.
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue.
Monster Rancher.
Monster Rancher 2. (Massive recommendation. It's not Pokemon -- it's a hundred times better.)
Suikoden.
Suikoden II.
Thousand Arms.
Valkyrie Profile. (Very nice.)
Wild Arms.
Xenogears.

Right there is an _assload_ of good-to-great PS1 RPGs, most of which can be found at significant discounts from their original prices, and I could throw in a few more like Breath of Fire 3 & 4, Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Legacy of Kain and Legend of Mana to round things out.

PS2: ALL of the above, plus:
Final Fantasy X, X-2, XI, XII, and whatever follows those in the "main" series.
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (an AWESOME strategy RPG).
Wild Arms 3.
Legaia 2: Duel Saga.
Monster Rancher 3 and 4.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 7 & 8.
Grandia 2 and Grandia Xtreme.
Suikoden III.
Xenosaga.
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land (old school!)
Star Ocean: Til The End Of Time (coming next Feb).

And that's just the GOOD ones. Shall I list the mediocrities as well?

Now, when it comes to RPGs, here's the Cube's entire library:
Skies of Arcadia Legends.
Phantasy Star Online.
FF: Crystal Chronicles (next year).
A Paper Mario RPG (next year).

Enough said?

As for system choice, I lean towards the PS2 over the PS1, for the obvious reasons -- the game library is bigger and newer, and will keep growing (whereas the PS1 is essentially done). You have PS2-compatible games already (the FFs); get a PS2 to go with them. Leave yourself the option to get FF X and beyond down the road sometime. If you want cheap add-ons for your own (or their) amusement, Star Ocean: The Second Story and FF Tactics are both right there at under $20, or there are the FF compilations if you can find them at a reasonable price.

If you're really strapped for cash, a PS1 will do, but you're essentially be paying that $60 over again when you buy the PS2 down the road (and when the latest and greatest FF is on it, you know you're going to want to.)

By the time you're done playing all of that, used Cubes may be down to fifty bucks. (They're already at $89 used, and that was BEFORE the recent price drop.)

Addendum: I hated hated hated Zelda: The Wind Waker, and took it back before my rental period was up. Your mileage may vary.