Yes about what they can do! Not what the materia can do or the items they find can do. It's the character fighting not Knight of the Round or Ultima. Cloud is a fighter not a caster. It's clear and simple.

If you think it's unfair it's cause you dont actualy understand Cloud. Sure he isnt as killer as in ff7 with materia equip and 99 x-potion + shield/wall/reflect and you name it... But that doesnt mean that he is a weakling. His fighting skill are not gone. Cause he doesnt have access to materia aint gonna mean he will fight X using some bamboo stick with a paperbag handle.