What I find very odd is the popular opinion that Cloud is an insufferable emo. Aside from his appearances in KH (which are non-canon to the FF-verse) the several justified phases he went through that you listed, Cloud ins't a overly serious or mopey character. In fact, especially at the beginning of FFVII, he's cocky and snarks everyone. The only times he acted "emo" were under circumstances like mako poisoning and mental breakdowns, which would do that to just about everyone.
Blame it on the hipster hate.