Anima upgrade is 260 at-best, it'll probably be a short upgrade like the 230 was to reward those who got the 240 step done.

The new PoTD weapons are i255. However Sophia i255 weapons are still a good investment and to gear your alt jobs, or to get into Savage at-least. Plus seeing how many out there still have last tier's i240 or worse, less. Can't say it'll be outdated considering most of the normal population doesn't even have beyond 240.

It is true we raiders don't "need" the anima considering every A10S clear weekly is another shire tome weapon for the raid. Then clearing A11S regularly for the Gobdip to upgrade the Shire weapon to 270. So the anima step is just a glamour at-best or "better" sub-stats until you get the tome/gobdip upgrade.