I'm with you. My problem so much wasn't with the new characters but what they did to the old characters in order to make the storyline progress -- especially Lloyd.

I think Tales of Symphonia is one of those games where a sequel ruins it. If anything, they needed a prequel set during the Ancient Kharlan War and the formation of Cruxis, Martel's death, splitting the world in two, etc. They have a ready-made party in Kratos, Mithos, Yuan and Martel. Even though a good bit of their story was told in the main game, there was so much more they could have added to it. It would have been a fantastic video game and a much better companion to Tales of Symphonia than Dawn of the New World.