The thing that drives me nuts is that non-random encounters have existed basically since video games we could remotely call "RPGs" have existed...As I understand it, the thing that kind of IS a system limitation is having them take place on a separate static "battle screen", since you can use the transitions between to and from battle to load in more field assets (obviously its not the only reason to have a separate battle screen, but it DOES accomplish that). I think the actual randomness was at least partially an attempt to emulate tabletop games of the time, and thus totally deliberate. Inventory limits seem even more obviously deliberate to me -- like, ok yes the NES probably can't process the fact that you have ten zillion different items that easily, but also...your inventory represents items you are carrying. Having a pretty strict limit on that seems uhh kind of an obvious move.

Also Suikoden was a PS1 game, right...? Any processing limitations that would have affected the average RPG inventory were WELL in the past at that point, lol. Come on.