Do AST cards feel clunky to anybody else?

[VanEinstein]

If DPS aren't meeting DPS checks, that's on the DPS. There's only so much pull a healer has, regardless of class. Every battle was designed to be beatable without the damage input of a healer. If AST is able to carry groups, then it becomes mandatory. They can help a group with cards and maybe some DPS, and if you don't need the stronger heals then AST fits the bill.

The only trouble with your statement is at the end. The majority of groups need those stronger, reliable heals. This would relegate AST to serving for content only once it has reached farm status and beyond. There's no balance in that. Thankfully we've seen that AST *can* be brought to progression, but it makes things so much more difficult and exasperating for everyone involved.