[Coda]

Well, the question about "prefers" depends on what context you're talking about. :P If I needed a magical being to fight with me / protect me (and if elementality wasn't a concern), I'd take PAD Shiva in a heartbeat -- FF Shiva tends to be on the weaker side of FF summons, but PAD Shiva is quite potent.

On the other hand, if I needed to pick one to hang a poster of in my room... sorry, PAD Shiva, you're handsome but not really my thing.

(Also, I'm not a big fan of Awoken Shiva, statistically. I consider the active skill a nerf compared to the other forms, and the 2xTPA doesn't make up for it when you account for the fact that you've lost 2x row enhance. And the while the LS is better than R/B Shiva's, R/D Shiva's is better for a mono-fire team unless you really desperately need the HP/RCV.)