agree with the OP. It seems like SE added a second healer, because it was needed. And rather than add a new class, they added SCH as a job to ARC.
I main SCH (i99) but am gearing up SMN as my primary alt. I am leveling WHM and BLM as well, but I just hate playing a "gimped" SMN, even if it is not a significant reduction in dps.
But I will certainly not put the points in PIE, as then I will have both jobs less than optimal. And what are we running the gear treadmill for if not to build optimal characters.