I think a simple increase in the max distance an automaton will stay away from the target mob would be appropriate and highly effective for some of the frustrating aspects of the job.
Sharpshot and the mages will stay far away if you deploy them within a max distance from the target mob. However this distance is well within AoE range from the big NM's. This is a big reason pup isn't very welcome for larger NM events.
A ranger or a mage can attack or cure from outside normal AoE range. Sharpshot or a mage frame cannot.
It would be good to increase the max range to ~21 yalms instead of the current 15 yalms.
That would match players and be simple to change.