The puppy thing was fanon way before CC came out, though, i think. Maybe the nickname wasn't as spread out, but the whee! bouncebounce! I'm borderline retarded!! I love everyone!! characterization was already floating around.

I don't think I want to play CC, i watched the cutscenes because I was curious and they're very pretty but I don't want to get CC bits into my headcanon, it limits way too many interesting things I could be doing with Cloud and Zack and Seph's backstories.