It makes sense if you know a little Japanese. Tsuno will agree with me on this. If they put in the R in Bartz, it would be "Bah-ru-tz" in Japanese. "Bah-tz" is closer to what they wanted, which is "Bartz."
Usually, if an R is intended to be implied, the preceding vowel will be emphasized. I would expect, if his name were Bartz, that it would be written
? (baattsu). Rarely ever is an R in a name portrayed as a "ru," unless it posesses a syllable of its own.
It doesn't change the fact that it's a stupid name. Bartz? What's that short for, Bartztholomew? Hehe.
Anywho, Bahamut Lagoon is home to all KINDS of awesome names. Not only is the hero named Byuu, but his friend is named Bikkebakke, and his girlfriend is Princess Yoyo. Awesome!!
I never knew how to pronounce "Schala," either! Is it "Skah-la," "Sha-la," "Shay-la," or some other pronounciation I never even thought of?