I took this idea from a game I used to play on my iPad (can't remember the name lol sorry) but it was mmorpg where you had to level up your chars and you had this minions that helped you to fight (actually they were more like companions but anyway)

The great part about it is that those companions gave you stats... +str, +dex, and you had plenty to choose and that's what i see it can be replicated in this game. Summoning your minions to give you things... An that can be used for all, summoning little chocobo to give you companion +exp, summoning the dog = + vit, and even you could get stats for crafting or mining! or I don't know??! what I want it's to give an actual use to minions! yeah?!! they are funny but give us something to actually use em...

With this idea I can see every person in eorzea running with his minion out ( maybe one for + movement speed too haha), and that's not all but giving this you actually give an strat to use em too... Or to find em!