The primary need for distinction, for the “western” RPG set at least, was that JRPG writing was seen as pretty poor. Ironic given some of the absolute slop “western” RPG slop that was being conveniently ignored in this argument, but I digress.

I think many WRPG fans just had a negative kneejerk reaction to the aesthetics of JRPGs. They saw colourful anime characters with wacky hair and cute creatures and just instantly rejected them