How the heck did you get the notion RDM matters less? I read that as a RDM shouldn't out DD THF, DNC, NIN, or BST. You might want to reread that because I honestly can't see how you're getting that they should matter less.
A RDM can melee, at a decent rate is it anything to brag about? Not really but how can you expect that considering everything a RDM can already do at decent levels (you know "jack of all jobs"). It shouldn't be able to do melee damage above those jobs let alone on par.
That said even if it could out damage those jobs you still wouldn't be getting invites from the player base that thinks RDM is useless.
Edit: The only way a RDM will become desirable to the community that has deemed it useless is something along the lines of:
Double the potency of enfeebles from RDM (Maybe even triple it).
Demi. 25-50% HP
Stop.
Give it melee damage on par with SAM/DRK/MNK/WAR.
Outside of something that extreme the community that has outcast it won't see value in it. If you don't see how any of those combined with everything else a RDM can do isn't broken or over powered then you're crazy.