One of the most misinterpreted aspects of Gippal's personality is his maturity level. Oftentimes he will be described as "immature"; this simply could not be farther from the truth. Gippal may appear quick to joke, but at the heart of his character is a strong, focused, responsible young man. If this weren't so, he would in no way be fit to lead the Machine Faction or, to an even greater extent, survive the Crimson Squad. Throughout the Crimson Spheres you'll notice Gippal's quick reflexes and active, determined mind. Baralai and Nooj do not hold his hand during the training exercises, nor does he waste precious moments in the heat of battle with silly, foolhardy actions. While leisure time may be used for just that, work is work, and he's willing to actively participate toward achieving the goal at hand. This very mindset, present in all four members of the squad, is what ultimately leads them to success.
Such responsibility shows most clearly when Yuna and the Gullwings approach the Machine Faction about clearing Djose of fiends for them. Gippal stoutly refuses their help on grounds that Yuna "has already done enough for Spira" and they can't "run to her every time they have a problem". If he were truly so irresponsible and self-oriented, he would have eagerly accepted the Gullwings’ help. Instead, he reassures the group that he can "watch his own back", and he has no problem with being held accountable for his own actions.
On the subject of leadership, Gippal holds a unique stance in the realm of legitimate authority. Neither a bully nor particularly awe-inspiring, he nevertheless earns the trust, appreciation, and dedication of his squad members. This ability to be 'one of the people' most likely stems from his charming, relaxed attitude. He doesn't hold himself in a lofty position above the members of the Machine Faction, but instead treats everyone the same across the board. While a bit intrusive of Yuna's personal space during their first meeting, he never has to be concerned with accusations of snobbery or megalomaniac tendencies.
An aspect that is distinctly "Gippal" is his apparent dislike and mistrust of any sort of politics. The Machine Faction is repeatedly mentioned to be completely neutral in the grappling for power between New Yevon and the Youth League; their concern is not political, but technological. Why is this? Because Gippal is so thoroughly uninterested in the practice of politics. He's honest, forthright, and not one to beat about the bush when the moment comes. He also appears to be uneager to side with either Nooj or Baralai, and his group flat-out refuses to. He hates political issues, both for their bothersome, manipulative nature, and the conflict it causes among friends and allies. He tends to rise above these situations, remaining neutral until he absolutely cannot be allowed to.
Gippal is confident in himself -- so confident, in fact, that he doesn't feel the need to be obnoxiously snobby or conceited toward others. He is entirely comfortable in his own skin, and above all he is sure in who he is and where he stands on most important matters. He knows right from wrong, and he will act decisively when he feels justified. Both in the Den of Woe and Bevelle, Nooj and Baralai pull their guns on each other. Gippal quickly processes the moment, then draws his own weapon and demands whoever is brandishing their gun to put it down or face the consequences. He remains shockingly calm in these tense moments, though it is obvious that the act pains him. However, in the general interest of the group and safety, he will do whatever is necessary to resolve the conflict. He remains level-headed, and is not afraid to make his own group-based demands in order to end the crisis with minimal bloodshed.
Another defining Gippal trait is resilience. The young Al Bhed dreamed of becoming a Crusader as a child; unfortunately, once he grew to the application age, he was refused entry on grounds of his ethnicity. Spirit hurt but not broken, he discovers the next best option and signs up to join the Crimson Squad. After the events in the Den of Woe and Mi'ihen, Gippal founds the Machine Faction for a variety of reasons, one of which only Paine seems able to pick up on: he wants to build a weapon to counter Vegnagun. While we're unsure of whether this urge comes from a distinct (and both emotional and scientific) urge to understand Vegnagun, to possibly defeat it one day, or a combination of both, the fact remains that instead of rolling over and admitting defeat, he rises to the occasion and begins important countermeasures to safeguard Spira.
Gippal has an unusual, creative way of twisting phrases and words to get his point across. When Nooj laments on the possibility of apologizing with his death, Gippal bluntly states that, "When a deathseeker dies, it's no apology". While I would personally hesitate to call him unfeeling or unaware, he is most definitely quick to give his opinion when he feels the moment is right. However, he also knows when to hold his tongue; he does during the reunion with Paine, and later in Bevelle, when it would have been natural for him to immediately demand answers from Nooj and Baralai about the Mi'ihen incident.
Another common misconception is Gippal's intellectual prowess. No where in the game is he portrayed as an idiot; in fact, he repairs the commsphere that Shinra, the "most brilliant kid in the world", invented. While his response is borderline egotistical ("Whoever came up with this is a genius...Guess I'm a genius too for fixing it."), the statement is true. It can be assumed that Gippal had limited tools and devices with him while stranded on the Farplane, so to repair a new invention without so much as a clue to what it truly is, or who created it and for what purpose, shows a great deal of ingenuity and talent in the field of mechanical engineering. He is inventive and a good deal smarter than most give him credit for; still waters run deep, and Gippal is no exception. To underestimate his own brand of creative rogue genius would be a fatal mistake.
Gippal is renowned as a flirt and traveler. A member of the Machine Faction tells Yuna that she wishes he'd settle down a bit more. Why Gippal travels no one can be sure; research, clues to the Crimson Squad's demise, or the sheer adventure are all plausible explanations.
He apparently has limited knowledge of personal space, and invades people's comfort zones with little to no invitation. He's in your face, jovial, and unafraid of contact. Gippal often seemed willing to listen to people, and during the final speech at the end of the game, he reassuringly pats Nooj's shoulder in a gesture of encouragement and comfort. He assigns nicknames to friends, and isn’t above teasing them now and again.
Far from the 'big bad rocker' or 'humorous comedy relief' stereotypes he is often incorrectly assigned, at the heart of Gippal lies a smart, good-natured, determined young man who is willing to make appropriate sacrifices, stand on his own two feet, and pull his share of the weight in any situation he may find himself in.