It’s also all but a given that the expansion will include at least two new jobs.

[Atoli]

No idea where all the AST hate is coming from..AST is the better WHM actually
So no, not a "discount WHM" at all.

But yeah, just for balance purposes, I also think if there only would be 2 new classes it would be tank and DPS.
Because DPS is a given at this point, and to balance it out a tank, especially since we still have a crazy lack of tanks but not so much a lack of healers.

Which is sad to me, because I'd prefer leveling another healer :/

[mp-please]

No idea where all the AST hate is coming from..AST is the better WHM actually

You answered your own question.

[Risvertasashi]

No idea where all the AST hate is coming from..AST is the better WHM actually
So no, not a "discount WHM" at all.

At its core, AST is a (very pretty) WHM reskin. One that started out considerably weaker and ended up a bit stronger than its progenitor. WHMs won't get excluded from raids for as long as that initial perception lingers, and as long as they're 'close enough'... but I hope the problem with SE's design philosophy when it came to AST is rather self evident.

It's also why people fear that a new healer would lead to a SCH + (WHM/AST/new job) meta. Hopefully their rebalancing plans will put an end to that, but only time will tell.