Bard in the party... thoughts?

[ChameleonMS]

BRD does have the lowest DPS of all DPS classes (as of 3.2 IIRC MCH passed it) but BRD utility is always appreciated when it fits with the other members of the team.
E.g. Have a BLM or SMN as a ranged DPS, or a DPS Healer? Foe's Requiem
Have an AST or WHM with intense healing needs / death recoveries? Mage's Ballad
Have a DRG on the team, BRD dps is increased.
Have PLD tank and no NIN on the team? Army's Paeon because that PLD will be out of TP after about 5 minutes without a break.
Have WAR tank using Berserk? pre-cast Warden's Paean, saves the healer from Esuna / Leeches / Exalted Detriment.

[Jim_Berry]

BRD does have the lowest DPS of all DPS classes (as of 3.2 IIRC MCH passed it) but BRD utility is always appreciated when it fits with the other members of the team.

The sad part about playing BRD, is that the community knows BRD has the lower dps. However, it becomes stressful when they say an 1100 dps BRD is a sucky BRD, thus maybe killing TC's morale on the job later.

[Berethos]

Have WAR tank using Berserk? pre-cast Warden's Paean, saves the healer from Esuna / Leeches / Exalted Detriment.

No more pre-cast actually - 45 second cool down, instant cast. Used to deal with pretty much the same things as before, but it's reactive instead of proactive now.

[AskaRay]

No more pre-cast actually - 45 second cool down, instant cast. Used to deal with pretty much the same things as before, but it's reactive instead of proactive now.

No, precast as in, cast it before the status effect comes up, instead of waiting for the effect to pop and casting it.
It's better to precast and have the effect never hit then "timing" it to hit as the effect starts (since WP blocks the next status ailment OR cures one status ailment).