I'd reckomend giving it ago. I got abit fed up of the combat because I felt Tartarus was a bit too samey but the characters and darker story really pull you along.
If the time investment is really an issue might be worth playing P3P instead if you have a PSP or Vita, despite not having the extra FES content (but you could just watch the story bits on YouTube after) as it's abit more streamlined and its easier to pick it up and put it down around other things.
I think it's fair to form an opinion on a game without finishing it. If somethings is not connecting for you then it's fair enough to say it's not for you, regardless of the late game. Even if the end is phenomenal but it was a massive slog to get there, overall I would say say that the game is still poor overall.
I believe this to still holds true in a professional sense too for reviews, as it's more the reviewers opinion themselves I look out for, and if I respect their opinion or share a similar one. For example a review from a reviewer who hates JRPGs I'm not going too pay too much attention too, especially if they dislike it, as it's not there thing. Whereas if a reviewer who loves them dislikes it I will, even more so if it's states they couldn't play it through to the end.
Evening all. I'm U.K. based too. I seem to forever be at work, so can never catch the streams live. I'm always keen to get some games in with folk when I do find the chance though.