Allow Blue Mages to learn as many spells as they feel up to putting in (currently the 49?). Instead of allowing each spell to be equipped, give the blue mage a spell slot for different things. An AoE, a single target, a heavy hitting nuke, and allow the BLU to pick what spells fill each slot. You can balance the potency on the spell itself and still allow the BLU to be... well, BLU. This isn't far from the idea of the Egi skins, and would even allow some customization between BLUs as some would prefer fire breath, some bad breath, etc. etc. BLU LB3 under this guise could be something akin to Mega Death, or even their choice of a primal ability (though that likely treads on summoners too much).

Every BLU would have that solo aspect of hunting new abilities, be unique enough to stand out, and be balanced enough to do relevant content with everyone. To fit in with current designs, give'em a bar to fill to maybe augment their spells, or allow access to the higher tiered BLU spells.

There you have it though, a basic outline for one of many ways BLU could have been implemented and still be a balanced job. XIV is a different beast than the single player RPGs, and also its own thing from XI. Bringing in old fan favorites can be done without having to cling to how it was done in the past.

People want them to try new things, but this isn't it. When I see people talking about being tired of the formula XIV uses, it isn't regarding jobs, its about how the content is released. Every time we get story, 1-2 dungeons, 1 trial, 1 new raid. It's never a question of what we're getting. Trying something new with a job, but effectively cutting it down with a level cap and ability to play with others goes against what MMOs are.

I don't want to see more limited jobs, because it gives the dev team an out to be lazy with creating new jobs. There's a job I absolutely am dying to get in XIV, and it's been suggested as a potential limited job, and that kills me. I will still play BLU in its current form, but I'd rather wait and receive a full job that can be played in all content and be enjoyed with friends, than a side project that keeps me away from everyone and eventually becomes obsolete. I shouldn't have to make the choice to play with or without my friends in a MMO.