i don't really understand why people would want to make the game easier than it already is. if you can actually get beta before trine (i did it once many years ago), you're already at a level that can trivialize that entire stretch of the game anyway. i've always found the practice of grinding to be an absurd waste of time regardless since regular progression yields as much experience in a handful of battles as an hour of sticking to one area and grinding it out..
Getting Beta on your first encounter with the snake is a meta game in itself. You have to grind a bit and definitely strategize. You also HAVE to have on elemental-fire on your armor materia slots.
I did this a while ago and I found it very satisfying to have beta available so early.