Now that I have gotten to 60, yeah I can say SMN is better at AOE than BLM. Even before 3.0, the BLM had to be really good to best me at AOE. Now I absolutely wreck everything in my path, and it feels damn good! However, I still feel for BLM mains, I did start out as a Thaumaturge after all. I believe if SE nerfed Flare, then Fire II should receive a buff in order to bring BLM up to par with SMN. We are casters, we are AOE gods after all. Also based on what I have read /heard, BLM is totally fine until they have to move. High movement cripples them even more than before. SE has to take a look at how Enochian, Fire IV, and Blizzard IV work again. I'm surprised they haven't let Firestarter stack up til two since so many requested it to help with movement. Let's not play the Nerf this job because mine sucks game guys, instead try to offer reasonable changes to improve your job.