This whole thread kind of reminds me of Red Mage debates in FFXI. Traditionalists wanted RDM to fight in melee, but the class was legitimately more effective as a straight ranged caster. It was not how "red mage" had ever worked in the series, but it worked in the game and a lot of people liked playing it. These days, many people have this (incorrect) conception of red mage as a support caster entirely because of FFXI.

In short, we have a summoner, whether we like that it's a "summoner" or not, and it is what it is. Calls to mechanically overhaul a viable and popular class are silly.