Agreed. DA is a crutch more than a game-play element. And with it being available on both sides of DRKs Toolkit, it just becomes an absurd tree of choices. At this point, DA should either:

a.- Become a trait to Darkside being active that increases potency and resource consumption of the skill by a %. (I'd say 15% and ignores Grit or 30% solid)
b.- Make it last the full 10s and not end upon use (can increase the MP cost to compensate)

DA then becomes a different kind of crutch:

* As a trait: Raises DPS while raising the resource management needs.
* As a timed buff: Raises Burst DPS Damage while compensating for the cost.