Its not just tanks who get shoulder pauldrons. Why do I need shoulder pauldrons as a Bard or a White Mage?
Its not just heavy armor that has these things. For example:
http://i.imgur.com/OEXWfq4.png
http://i.imgur.com/aFA5K2kl.png
This is just a couple examples of pauldrons on jobs that are NOT tanks or classes that wear heavy armor. (and in the first image, the pauldron off the left shoulder isnt even ATTACHED, it hangs there in mid air.)
I get that many of the pauldrons were there to give an aesthetic touch to the piece of gear, but in some cases it just looks down right wrong.
This is exactly why folks want a shoulder pauldron TOGGLE. So that those who do like it can keep it. And those that dont can turn it off. If they can do that w/ Visor, they can do it with /pauldrons
