Yeah, XI stagnating into more or less the same level 75 endgame for years was kind of an exception to the flow and evolution of MMOs. I don't quite agree with the belief that some have with Abyssea being an overpowered sandbox swan song of the game, but I will never sit here and think of the future with it being the standard.

This is why once we're looking elsewhere and things like MP limitations are a concern again, RDM's actual balancing factor (MP) will be there to determine how much it can do within a certain span of time. Ideally, the melee role would tie up that MP for self-buffs, an emergency cure, enfeebles, and maybe the odd MB. If you try to main heal and nuke aggressively at the same time, you'll pretty much empty your gas tank quick.

Nonetheless, RDM melee shouldn't begin with CDC after 85+ levels and hours of running trials. And until WoE is more hospitable for individual progress, demanding it just to even enter baseline acceptability isn't good. We don't see people refusing to invite WARs who don't have Ukko's, but I'm sure they'd be pitching a fit if that was indeed the case.