Regarding AST

[KDSilver]

Anyone who thinks AST is in a bad spot right now is kidding themselves. No healer is weak right now.

Ast isn't in a bad spot. Ast isn't weak.
I totally agree. We're far from what healers were in Heavensward.

However, Ast still stay weaker than Whm and Sch.
Only a full aoe balance uptime would make it better at increasing raid dps.
He still lacks of oGCD healing and has the worst mana among healers.

Yes, every healers are totally capable of doing the content, even very well.
He's just behind but it's more balanced now so it's okay.

What hurt Ast is Whm being able to use Devine Benision every 30s and Sch having succor buffed.
A good WHM who can provide a very good healing and dps overshadow ast buff. And SCH is SCH. His versatile toolkit, aetherflow and fairy and buffs will always make him far better than ast as the "shielder healer".

But again, I repeat myself, it doesn't make Ast weak at all. They made good adjustment so far.
That's just an analysis over all my game experience and everything I've read and watched among the FFXIV community

If they had to make adjustments right now (it's not necessary cause Ast can still do the job well, but in comparison with other healers..) it could be really small. Like maybe increase Malefic III potency to 230. Reduce Aspected Helios and Benefic mana cost (small reduce). Cause Ast lost one server tick for his mana refresh. Luminferous Aether used to be at 24s (+10 with CO).
And yes, one small increase to Malefic because as I said, Ast can't beat WHM unless he has great aoe uptime buff (especially balance).
And a very small potency buff to Nocturnal Stance who still can't compete with Scholar's toolkit. (aspected helio especially).

Any major changes will be done at 5.0

Also, I agree a 4th healer is needeed so Astrologian could gain his "own indentity" (and not just the "be paired with a whm or a sch")