Quote Originally Posted by Miste View Post
Healing potency was the reason AST's were not accepted into groups at release.
You're only half correct. ASTs weren't accepted into raiding because their healing was weaker, and their buffs were not worth the riskier healing at the time.
This is a very important point to understand. ASTs identity was supposed to be lower healing but strong support. But since their support was so weak that it didn't make a difference whether you used it or not, there was no real benefit to bringing one. Now there is. Cards are very strong now and will more than warrant lower healing potency.

When deciding between AST vs WHM, it should be a choice of wanting high support vs safer healing. AST healing as high as a WHM and offering buffs is a mistake I hope they correct in 4.0.
Obviously they still need to be able to heal content, but it should be a lot harder on AST for the added benefits it brings.