SAM is in a very tough spot because of this, especially with the resistance down debuffs being gone. It's highlighting how it absolutely needs something to stand up when the other 3 melees offer more.

MNK with Brotherhood and Mantra, DRG with Litany and Eye, and NIN with the godlike Trick Attack.

All having their own dots, while not as amazing as Higanbana are naturally part of their rotation and don't need a cashout for their gauge to use.

I leveled up SAM as my first dps to 80 in SHB and I do like how fun it is, but the removal of Hagakure (a staple I loved using in 4.0) and the addition of the absolutely bizarre Shoha don't help it's case. Not every fight is going to have the downtime to maximize on Shoha and also with the meditation stacks being on a timer doesn't even help it in the long run. You're looking at best maybe 200 extra potency (3 ticks) off an OGCD which is nice but I feel we should gradually earn these stacks through other means.

Hell even if Seigan would add a stack on for landing it, I think even that would be nice to add on.