Dev Team, you screwed up.

[Dualgunner]

What I'm saying is you'll just have another Red Mage with different spell names - where the illusion of melee combat is there but not real.
OR another BLM with different spell names
OR make the DoT based with filler and you've got a SMN with different spell names.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to other types of ranged magical dps playstyles.

Just because you can't imagine it doesn't mean there's no possible way. People were saying the same thing about Red Mage before it came out-- "How do we release RDM without it just being BLM again?" Well, they managed it. There's nothing stopping them from doing the same for a Blue Mage.

As far as the number of BLU spells being reduced--yes, a DFable BLU probably would have their total spells reduced. I'm also given to understand that XIV as it is right now is up there with total BLU spells anyway.