How do you feel about Viper?

[CKNovel]

What you start the combo with is what dictates whether your positional is rear or side. That's plenty of time to know in advance, given it's a decision you make yourself.

No, it's the second GCD that defines wether you'll end on the side or flank, you can try it yourself.

Dont get me wrong but most of the things you stated are a YOU problem
True North is actually kind of nice for it, you cant cover all of them because TN 45s, Dreadwinder 40s but it is still something to help you get used too it.

And... What's wrong with a "you problem"? I'm sharing my feedback and how I feel, of course it's a "you problem". That's the point of this topic!

As for the positionals, the amount of misinformation I've seen on this topic just reinforce my idea it needs to be better communicated.
Since the positionals are tied on the buff you'll need to refresh, have the buff on the job bar, above left and right blade so that you can mentally map that smaller number left will mean flank, smaller number right will mean back.

Bloodbath is self healing, not mitigation, that's a huge difference. And all melee jobs have Bloodbath. It might synergize well, Viper is still the job with the least amoung of healing/mitigation.