You can bypass the character limit by editing your first post.

You could always take your soul crystal off when soloing, which is how they planned in originally if I recall. Classes are for soloing, jobs for group. If you remove the soul crystal you would have access to more cross class abilities like raging strikes and blood for blood which would increase your DPS. Couple those 2 abilities with bloodbath and your survivability should increase as well.

That being said, I agree that PLD sucks solo.