So what do you suggest, we compare AST to a Ninja, or a tank maybe? Of course we're going to compare AST and their kits and what they're capable of to the two other healing classes that their two stances are pretty much modeled after. Everyone compared WHM to SCH, hell that's why SCH received the ability to do better AoE healing and why WHM got a bubble as well.

30 Seconds before you can draw a card, RNG, how long it takes to set up the increase bonus, and is that bonus worth what the AST loses in the trade of support? Fact is while it might be fine to take an AST in some cases, in progression raiding you won't take anything but a WHM/SCH when they do what an AST does much better.

I mean SCH/WHM can just place their bubbles, but we have to channel ours, most likely for no other reason because of the lore behind the spell. I don't exactly have the answer to Collective Unconscious being so good that you don't need to be casting heals while it's up and a WHM/SCH does have to because their bubble isn't as strong or not.