Well if you yourself want to go as a certain class that shouldnt be a problem. Your LS should accomadate to it (they did recruit you knowing that was your main)

Sure it may or may not take an extra 10mins. But that shouldnt matter at all. Its the players that pigeon hole these things cause they want to kill fast and efficient. But really the extra 5mins wont kill you.

I dont see this as a SE issue in terms of balancing. Like I said its the players that create this.

Like Vorn said. We are as balanced as ever and if you know what your class is capable of in the fight and know how to use it then by all means use your preferred class.