I have seen requests for this on the JP forums for a long time and I never thought that it would actually be considered. I am very curious to see how they implement it. If monsters gain access to the spell as well, that could be very interesting as well.

This is a classic FF spell that has typically gone to WHM. I also agree that for FFXI another class should receive the spell. No, I don't need to wait and see the specifics of the spell, nor is this a knee jerk reaction. We have a general understanding of what the spell is going to do and the implementation of that idea will not effect how I view which job(s) the spell should go to. It is also very clear that WHM is extremely powerful and well situated in the game now. This spell should go to one of the other mage jobs to help provide them with a boost.

I think the obvious choices are RDM and PLD. Personally, RDM would get my vote between the two but I would like to mention SMN and SCH as alternate picks. SMN could receive an AOE or modified AOE version of the spell as a pact for Carbuncle (or Cait Sith - whenever she is coming). I mention SCH because of the strategic nature of the spell fitting in with the concept of the job and the need for more SCH specific spells that are useful outside of Tabula Rasa.

I think this will be in development for a long, long time. I'm curious to see what comes of this.