Hate to break it to you.
Monk only lost two dots total. Fracture and Touch of death. It only had three dots total, and it kept demolish. Fracture was also arguably a dps loss at only 200 potency.
Most classes had the same treatment. Dark Knights lost scourge, Ninjas lost Mutilate. Warriors lost their enhanced fracture as well as monk. Dragoons lost phlebotomize and fracture. Summoners and scholars lost Bio.
So when you say the class lost it's identity, you are absolutely wrong. It lost one dot, and one cross class dot. Every class lost cross class skills that made it feel better. Machinists lost Hawk Eye, Raging strikes and quite a few other skills that just increased their damage by 15-20% each per skill.
Monk's bread and butter was not changed. You lost one dot, that you used maybe every 30 seconds. At most you used it made 10 times during a fight. And if you want to bring up useless skills, Monk is not the only class that lost useful skills, and kept useless ones. At least one Ilm punch is a guaranteed stun. Whm's Red Mage's and Summoner's Bind is good for what exactly? The stun is useful in solo. Physic on Summoner at level 70 replenishes 500 hp or right around 1% of their hp.
