Chiming in late on this, but Pezman's mention of Icybrian brought back so many memories. I think I might have read nearly all the finished fanfics that were on that site at one time...
That being said, I will agree with most everyone else here. Finding GOOD fanfics is decidedly difficult, and the time it takes to finally get one makes it almost not worth it. I can say that I've found some that were good enough to be novels, including one that someone actually plans to change characters and publish as a novel. However, that fanfic was one of those 'alternate universe' stories that actually had nothing to do with the series but used characters and their personalities to a T.
As a budding fangirl, I do remember writing my own horrid Pokemon fanfic (I think I wrote about 35 pages...handwrote), but that's either in the garbage or somewhere where it will never see the light of day again. I knew it was awful, even then.
Also, I do have an idea for a fanfic that I have wanted to write based on FF8, but I'm nearly certain that I never will write it (I'm bad enough not writing the fantasy book that I want to one day publish).