You seem to be unable to perceive how party dynamics work. RDM pre-refresh was overlooked because it was mediocre at pretty much everything. At the same time leveling was slow because you had to take MP breaks which means the whole party has to stop killing. Instead of doing something that wouldn't screw the job and avoided conflict between concept and practice (RDM being a melee mage vs parties desperate for MP regeneration and heals), they tossed Refresh in as a band-aid and called it a day.Refresh (and refresh II) are an incredible asset, hardly gimmicks.
A job being responsible for MP regeneration is a gimmick. A bad one when its sole value and desireability was based on that alone. You didn't invite RDM for enfeebles. You invited them because your PLD tank, your BLMs or the WHM in the group needed a way to recover MP and Bards were stupidly rare. Even SMN at one point wanted to get in on the gravy train by asking for refresh at one of the fanfest developer panels a couple of years ago. Humorously enough, that request was booed out of the room.
Note: If you need further evidence to why refresh was a horrible gimmick to stick RDM to, you need not look further than Atmas and the raising of the level cap.
Note2: Either way, I think I'm done here. I don't want to derail the thread any further. Even if on other forums it has morphed into cries of joy over the DRK changes or complaining about RNG needing more changes.