You really feel applying an always on debuff counts as utility? That's pretty much the opposite of utility.

I didn't realize every party had a scholar. Might as well say "why bring a ninja for slashing debuff, warriors already provide it".

You really don't think raise is very good? Hmm...I'd trade all utility from any other class (maybe not bard) for another battleres.

Furthermore, if say, SMN brought a caster damage cooldown or applied an always on caster damage debuff...

1. Your class would be balanced around it. Which means you'd just do 10% less damage.
2. You'd give up an ability to gain it. Again, a loss all around.

Woo.

Also I didn't realize that having more virus was a bad thing. Or that SCH already had 100% uptime on Eye for Eye. Or that having 2 shadowflares is better than 0 (or 1, if you're dead set on every raid has a scholar).

SMN's utility is very, very good. Just because it is not a dps increase does not mean it is not utility.