SMN development ideas.

[Dyvid]

I wonder if a Paradigm system would fit with the Summoner like changing the Summon on the fly while you gain a specific role bonus.
The summon bonus is party wide to feature a dynamic feature (like switching to Sentinel/Titan if you're going to receive party wide damage etc.)

Commando - Ifrit - Single target burst focus - passive crit bonus
Ravager - Garuda - Magical aoe focus - passive determination bonus
Sentinel - Titan - Defensive focus - passive Defense bonus
Synergist - Shiva - Buff focus - passive buff extension bonus
Saboteur - Ramuh - Debuff focus - passive debuff extension bonus
Medic - Leviathan - Healing focus - passive healing bonus

(*Leviathan will not have an healing auto attack!)

Of course the damage of the pets will be adjusted accordingly to make up for the utility used (so basically the caster equivalent of Bard making BLM/MCH high ranged dps focused and SMN/BRD ranged support focus)

Unfortunately the game is designed to only have 3 roles right now; DPS, Tank, Healer. Instead of making a straight support role they chose to give DPS support skills like BRD songs, NIN Goad, damage debuffs, and so on. Not saying its a bad idea just buffs and heals fall into the SCH realm of ACN. An Egi that focuses on debuff would be interesting but as you well know all these come down to the math equation of total DPS gained vs DPS lost.