The problem with many of these gauges being useless is that they try to be "cool" and draw attention. Except, you don't want your attention to be drawn to such things during a fight, so they are counterproductive to their purpose which is meant to make effective play easier.

Where there is a large numbered resource, like for Warrior or Red Mage, bars are fine. Where the amount of a resource is small or it works outright as a buff, they should just continue to be treated like that. They want to increase their visibility?! Sure. Make the "gauges" into nice, little frames that can be resized and placed where the player wants them, that will show the buffs the class can actually use and whether they are on or not (along with timers), and the debuffs the player can use. In both cases, where they are targeted, have them show the buffs/debuffs on target. And for crying out loud, make these buffs visible to other party members. Aetherflow and Astrologians cards being the biggest offenders here. I can see whether the tank have a tank stance or not despite them having that gauge. Why can't I see what cards the other Astrologian have, if any?! Whether the other Scholar have their Aetherflow to make up for a possible error or not?!

Being gaudy and cool is nice and all, but it should not come at the expense of functionality. Nor should it be half-assed. Either apply it to all similar mechanics, or none.