SE, don't overthink Summoner 7.0. Just give people what they want. Just do it.

[ataren3]

Have you ever played a FF game before FF10?

I don't mean this as a slight, but FFX was the first FF game where Summons fought on the field - in place of, not alongside, their Summoner. I believe FF13 is the only Final Fantasy to date where Summons fought in the field alongside their Summoner. (Maybe FF11, never played it so not sure how it worked).

That's what I mean. Final Fantasy's definition of a "summoner" is different than most other games because their "summons" aren't something that actively fight alongside you. You don't really control most of your summons' abilities; rather you channel them. I get why they mostly removed the "pets" because commanding the pet to do an ability was really awkward up to (and including Shadowbringers).

[Eisi]

Summoning Shiva should have us become a vessel for Shiva, same way it's been done for every Shiva summoning in the story so far.

It gives narrative cohesion, keeps a unique identity to 14's Shiva and opens up mechanical possibilities - you get rooted in an iceblock, free yourself, play as Shiva for a while, using casts for range, a melee combo, dragon bow and cap the phase off with diamond dust.