As Rambus and the person he quoted mentioned, PLDs been dieing. Abyssea was just the last nail in the coffin.

What really kept PLD alive was the fact that PLD has survivability on its side. Even subbing NIN, PLD had better survivability than most DD jobs. The reason abyssea 'killed' PLD is that with abyssea every job gained huge survivability bonuses. While PLD also gained these it lost some as well. Specifically the ability to cure itself. Yes, it still has cures but a 400HP cure when you have 4000 HP doesn't cut it.

So what can we give to help it stand out above the DD tanks.

1st) Resistance to Doom and Death. And not a poor job ability like Fealty or gimpy resistances like Resist Sleep but actual solid resistances to the two effects.

The only thing that can really kill someone in abyssea are these two things. Anything else a white mage can easily keep up with cures on the main tank.

The next three all have to do with enmity

2nd) Give more and better hate abilities/spells.

3rd) Immunity or high resistance to hate resets/less hate loss in general.

4th) Higher enmity cap for PLD.