but I don't see what advantage turn-based offers over a real-time system with pause button and action queueing, even when you're partying up. You can think and strategize just as much.

I just don't see the immersion in seeing a whole party pop out of your main char at the beginning of a fight, after which they all just stand there dancing until it's their time to... make a feeble hit, and that giant lumbering beast manages to dodge it. That's the time for me to check my watch and delete that demo.

The only issue with it is that there are precious little non-turn-based party RPG's, so it's hard to compare. But in terms of single player, I think it's a done deal by now.

I also don't see how real-time combat makes a game a *insert negative connotation* action-RPG. Because the combat isn't boring? If that makes an RPG an action RPG, I'm game for those.