I don't see them removing cards. It's the core identity of the class, it's on the job's artwork and is a prominent piece of the weapon. If they remove them, there would be outcry bigger than BowMage, I think. If they say they cannot balance them, then it's time to hire someone who can. It'd also be a massive kick in the nethers to everyone who loved old AST, who was told that we have to 'put up and shut up' and accept the 'all cards are the same damage buff' design because 'this way it can be balanced properly', if THIS can't be balanced either, then give us back the fun version. If we're not getting balance either way, we might as well at least have fun with it right?

If I, a random idiot ranting on a forum for a 10 year old MMO, can manage to get the card effects to be unique in nature AND roughly on par with each other in terms of projected damage contribution, then Multidollar Company sure as hell can. They should try announcing such a change at FanFest. I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to hear the news