You should still try Jak anyway, made by the same people and you should enjoy it as well. Although I'm biased to Jak so =P. But anyway, I can understand if you didn't like 8. It was... different how they did their system, and all the effing tutorials SUCKED... Still, try it again and draw the crap out of every spell you can.
FF9 was indeed the ****.
Haven't played FFXIII, but I think people are judging it based on past FF's. Again, haven't played it yet.
X... was bleh.
For J-RPGs, try Growlanser Generation (for PS2). It's a tactical rpg, but realtime if that makes sense. It's VERY hard but has an incredible storyline and a romance aspect for you to choose who the MC ends up with. Play 2 before 3... PLEASE or else you'll ruin a surprise!
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue isn't so bad either, a bit cheezy at times but still good.
The Fire Emblem series, the Front Mission series, and the Disgaea series are all good Tactical j-rpgs.
Tales of Symphonia is BETTER than Final Fantasy. I know I know, it's a crazy thing for me to say! Especially with how much I truly enjoy the FF games. But it's so very true.
Also, try not to expect pure epicness from most of them. Tales and Growlanser are about the only things able to be so epic. Well, Lunar 2 gets pretty awesome toward the end too.
Seriously, I'm the RPG GURU!