Gosh can we don't turn this into another DRG vs MNK dps argument.

Whether or not they are aware of it, DRGs are taking more dmg in fights and healers are (knowingly or unknowingly) healing DRGs more compared to others. It's just that this fact is often overshadowed by DRGs' notoriety for dying due to mechanics.

The point on DRGs having higher hp is moot for the following reason:
DRGs hp difference from the next lowest mdef class (BRD?) of equal ilvl is in the ballpark of ~500.
Yet during a huge attack, the ~100mdef diff results in a dmg diff of ~500.

Thus this begs the question:
What's the point of giving DRGs higher hp? Aren't DRGs supposed to be 'tanky' since it's a melee class?

TBH mdef is just one of things gone wrong in DRGs (read: NOT DPS). I'm sure someone has something to say about the general lack of usability (Feint, Keen Flurry, RoT, x-class skills) and difficulty in using job skills effectively (Jump, Elusive Jump, Power Surge).