what job holds best AOE DPS # in 4.0 ??

[Bardo]

Blm. Thunder IV, flares and foul if the battle takes that long...

Not to mention you can Triplecast three instant flares for nearly 800 potency AoE in 3 globals.
I would be really surprised if the answer to the OP's question isn't Blm.

Maybe the melee classes have better sustained AoE over a longer period, but I have trouble thinking of any examples where you actually need sustained AoE...

[Chronons]

Just a speculation, but I would say...

Tanks -WAR
Healers - WHM
Melee - SAM
Caster - BLM

I suspect BLM is overall top.

[Flaris]

I would place DRK over WAR. Quietus and Abyssal drain can do a lot of damage, especially when you're using TBN to proc the gauge refill.

[Furiea]

Not to mention you can Triplecast three instant flares for nearly 800 potency AoE in 3 globals.
I would be really surprised if the answer to the OP's question isn't Blm.

Maybe the melee classes have better sustained AoE over a longer period, but I have trouble thinking of any examples where you actually need sustained AoE...

where does SMN stand now?

[Sunako]

where does SMN stand now?

Summoner aoe dps is pretty high if you have cooldowns, but sustained aoe damage is not that good as blm. I have stealed aggro often with bahamut, but it is only once every 2min.