Trying to understand the complaints about DRK

[Hierro]

Just because I complain about a thing does not mean I dislike it. Not only did I say so myself, you yourself say as much here

Did you misread what I said? I was not complaining, but praising an aspect of DRK.

Anyone who knows anything about good design, or design in general, will see the flaws with this gauge and its implementation.

I suppose you have credentials in game design?

the DA effect of Q is worthless

You wrote all that theory. It sounds like you lack the practice if you think 4800 in MP cannot be refunded easily. However, I'll let a video demonstrate better than words can say. Check out how he goes from ~25%, to full with a single DA-Q, mutliples times, and on more than one pull. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJrtblpkHSQ

[stuff about gauges]

Realistically, PLD will only gain gauge via auto-attacks, the least engaging way to gain gauge. I don't know a PLD worth their salt that generates gauge through other methods. And no, PLD will not generate gauge as easily as it would in sword oath. In either case, DRK has far more interesting interaction with their gauge than PLD. WAR? hard to say, as I main it, I feel the gauge is little more than some token system, but I'll concede that may be habituation and bias.

if, as you say, there has yet to be a fight that outright requires this mitigation, a point that I say is flat out false

It's not false. There isn't a single instance that requires a raid-wide shield like DV or SiO, or perhaps more accurately, one that requires both. Let's be realistic, if a DRK is in your party, you're ensured to have WAR or PLD. You'll have some raid-wide shielding. Even then, instances like O4S were cleared just fine before SiO was turned into a raid-wide shield with DRK/WAR comps, and that instance had heavy amounts of damage going to the party. However, the point remains that party shielding isn't a requirement, or else comps with DRK would never clear anything to begin with, and it would be outright foolish to think instances like UCoB or UWU simply cater to DRK by having "weak-enough" raid-wide damage.

In regards to TBN costing MP, that point is irrelevant. Did you read the argument? There should not be a situation where you find yourself OOM. It's free mitigation and damage IF you practice proper management.

Clemency

Not part of your main damage combo, and arguably a detriment to use. But really, you can make the argument the frequent shielding you get from TBN is its own form of healing, otherwise SCH would be called a weak healer. Storm's path, on the other hand, the heal is so insignificant it changes realistically nothing. I should know from first hand experience. I don't feel like I'm missing a thing when I'm playing DRK over WAR, especially as MT as far as self healing goes.

what is offered by DRK, is offered by both WAR and PLD, and better

DRK unarguably has better AoE and mobility than PLD. DRK can take fluff damage better than PLD thanks to TBN. TBN outright 0s out auto attacks or certain raid-wides, blocking/sheltron only mitigates one such auto-attack/raid wide. Ever try mitigating o6s's last kiss with sheltron? Difficult to do when you constantly take autos. Easy with DRK thanks to TBN.

DRK has better personal mitigation than WAR. You can supplement any CD with TBN for mitigation that surpasses anything WAR can conjure up. TBN can be used while in dps stance, and it's better than IB.

so no, what is offered by DRK might have some aspects that is shared with the other tanks, but it definitely has its own unique flavor and can exceed where the other two don't.