Getting rid of AoE curing was critical to moving this game forward. What mmo has healers that can just spam one healing move and cure an entire raid? It was too ridiculous. Now CON and THM can focus on MP management, and using the skills to do so that they didn't need to use before. (Siphon MP, Tranquility, Spiritbind, etc.) Also now that you can't AoE a raid tanks have a purpose and dps need to pay attention to how much they are dealing out. It is an extremely good change, I wish people could just understand that.

As for PUG, I am one myself, this job was in for heavy balance changes, it could out dps and out tank any other job .. at the same time no less in many situations. Now that light strike needs MP and last 15 seconds you can rotate light strike buff with featherfoot and foresight. As for a PUGs MP management, think of Ninja in FFXI. A Ninja could not tank without Haste and a PUG can't tank without Stag Spikes.

All these changes not only balance the game but add more strategy. Unless the player base that was left was honestly happy with running around spamming dunefolk for dinner and levinshower .. I really do not understand all the complaints.