Honest question here. I know bards get a lot of hate for being better than melee but IMO from what I've seen in coil (and I've downed Twintania), Summoners CONSISTENTLY out damage every other class by a pretty big margin in every fight. They aren't affected as heavily by dodge mechanics like black mages because DoTs hit regardless, they have a pet, great aoe damage, AND they bring an instant cast battle res to the table. Not to mention in fights like Twintania they can easily bane their dots to conflags and dreadknights and fester for massive burst damage. Yet bards are the ones that get all the hate?

If you were making an optimal party comp you would probably just have 2 bards and 2 summoners... BLM/DRG/MNK really don't offer anything over them as far as damage or utility.