they weren't used because they had no strategic value, now they do. What i wouldn't do to get Spirit Dart and Mage Weapon skills back it was a hell of a lot better than sitting there with my thumb up my ass waiting for mp to Regen. also Rasp Choke etc etc had different elemental affinity's, Aero works when your not killing wind mobs, or mobs with high wind resist.

you can have all the spells and ability's in the world, alot of good that does you when elemental affinity means next to nothing and the World is empty as hell. both those things have been fixed, now is a good time to reevaluate skills like siphon, Shock Spikes, Circle Slash etc to be reintroduced.

ill take class diversity over class specifics any day...its funny alot of people bitch about how they cant play the class how they want to. yet here we are Justifying eliminating skills by combining them. because we all know the less you have the more you have right :/.

as for efficiency its a bloody game not a job your meant to have fun and not justify everything you or your friends do by effectiveness.