Having played numerous JRPGs before Final Fantasy VII first came out Aerith's death was not really a big event for me as it had already been done in other JRPGs. For instance Dragon Quest V and VI both had major characters dying. In V you had Mada's death, you also then had a little later into the game one of the hero's and his wife being turned to stone for ever. And there are many more examples of major characters dying in JRPGs before FF VII did it.