Not sure why Chrono Trigger just doesn’t resonate with me

I love JRPGs, my favorites being FF6, FF9, Persona 3, Star Ocean 2, DQ5, DQ8, and Xenogears.

It’s not lost on me that Chrono Trigger has timeless and superb character design, graphics, animations, and music…

But I find the game such a chore to play and I don’t know why.

I don’t really understand why it tops the charts of best JRPG.

It has nonlinearity but also… awful signposting of what is possible in terms of where to go next.

The pacing is quick but every party member is one note.

The big bad is a rock that has no motive or characterization.

You have this awesome choice based outcome for the trial scene… that affects absolutely nothing of impact.

There’s some unique environments but you blow through them so quickly it feels like they don’t really get a chance to make an impact.

The towns don’t really have a vibe at all because they’re all separate houses that spit you back to the world map.

The characters don’t really bounce off each other or communicate in a compelling way, every group scene they all sort of step forward so their trope, everyone nods, the next person does their trope, everyone nods…

Mechanically, on screen enemies may as well be random battles when you’re forced into so many on the path forward.

…idk, I just don’t really get it.

What am I missing that makes this so loved by everyone?

Edit: to be clear, I’ve beaten Chrono Trigger long ago, I’m not trying to “force my way through it” like 50% of commenters seem to assume. I’m just wondering why it’s so over hyped. What am I missing?