I can confirm this. In fact, PoR was actually announced first, and since it was supposedly a return to the console glory of the Super Famicom titles, "yet another" GBA game wasn't quite as appealing. Especially since it took place in an entirely new- and untested- universe.
While I give it a hard time, let me go on record as stating that Fire Emblem 8 is a solid strategy RPG. Trouble is, the game immediately preceding it is better in just about every relevant way: better character development, bigger cast, more chapters, more creative/challenging map design, a smoother difficulty curve, more gameplay modes, a ranking system, far superior character balance, the inclusion of real gaiden chapters, and- most importantly of all- it actually poses a challenge. The problem with FE8's difficulty has nothing to do with the Tower, which just serves to train up new recruits (or make an already easy game even easier): even without any abuse to speak of, the game is a breeze, and the lack of rankings is felt that much more as a result. I'm really not exaggerating when I say that S-Ranking Eliwood Normal mode is about as challenging as beating HM. And no, Pirate Ship isn't that hard of a map; I'd say it's about equal to HHM's FoW-Living Legend without going for the gaiden requirement.
Now, there are a handful of areas where FE8 wins out pretty indisputably, though I'm not sure how much they matter. SS has post-game content, though it's bland and repetitive (and FE7 encourages multiple playthroughs anyway); it also has branching promotions, though it always boils down to Choice A: The Clearly Superior Choice, and Choice B: Because You Wanted Some Variety. Quick note: after reading through this topic, I've seen a lot of Lyon/Nergal comparisons. That's an easy one: Lyon wins. Period. Especially on Ephraim's route, where his motivations are muddled even to himself for most of the game. But Nergal certainly compares favorably to, say, Valter, who seems to be a spiritual successor to the Dark Druid. And on the whole, 7's got a better supporting cast of villains.
I sympathize with Sacred Stones. I really do. It's an otherwise passable sRPG that's completely overshadowed by its predecessor, which is among the best strategy games ever made.
