i think what people don't see is the fact that they need to balance the jobs... and for this... the red mage can't keep all him tool from the solo game. because the balance is not the same.
here to have a caster that fight at melee and use black and white magic... all it miss it's be able to tank and he can do everything.
a class that can do everything in a mmorpg it's either weak or overpowered! because we need to have a role for this sort of game. we are not alone!

then if they leave the melee capacity to the red mage, you can be sure, that him capacity to use spell at range will disappear, all for the balance wise. but int this case, it will not be the red mage, but the rune fencer. what work for solo game, can't work for multiplayer game!