Graniteskin

I actually don't think most of WHM's abilities are situational at all. In fact, SS is now probably the most situational ability in their entire toolkit - moreso than Cure III. Its usefulness has been that severely diminished. Divine Seal? PoM? I use them constantly. Stoneskin? Two opportunities, really

Even if only from a lore perspective I agree with the post saying it has damaged part of the WHM's identity, which is in Conjuration, power over Earth, Wind, and Water spells.

AST has instant shields that do more than Stoneskin does, and they can cast Stoneskin. I'm not sure why they would be complaining with 10%? They also have the 10% damage reduction from Collective Unconscious. Boom, there's the extra 10% they have for "balance" if they really need it for a tank buster.

AST also has Disable, which stacks with Virus.

Meanwhile, WHM's mitigation has been completely nerfed to the ground but their curing hasn't been buffed enough to justify their status as as "power healers," especially when a SCH going full on healing will still be curing for more due to their fairy.

It's about balance. The identity of WHM is not around Stoneskin, it's around having big burst healing spells built in their GCD and having the biggest burst in damage when accuracy is not an issue. Mitigation is a core component of SCH and it's also a component of AST, so there's absolutely no loss in removing the Graniteskin trait because WHMs are not a shielding job.

Stoneskin is supposed to be situational and you use when you absolutely need extra shielding; if you don't, then WHM is not supposed to have an easy access shield with all the other healing options they have.

And the fairy does not heal the same as it used to heal. A Physick + Embrace heals for less than a Cure II and little over a Cure + Regen. WHM is still the king of group healing. Mitigation would make it unbalanced. New jobs will always make the old ones get adjustments and most likely nerfs. Wait until this game has four or five healing jobs and you'll see the specific niches being highlighted.