Why refusing customization is a fallacy

[Duelle]

When people say 'required' they do not (generally) mean literally. Being a suboptimal class won't keep you from 100% of the content, but it will keep you from a good fraction of it and make your gaming life much less fun. This atmosphere leads to frustration and people quitting, which is why they don't make MMO's like this anymore.

This a million times over. Being sub-optimal means you get odd looks from others and more-often-than-not don't "fit in" with the community, which is detrimental in a game genre that is built around people playing together.

PS: Aim customization to be in the vein of aesthetics and you get what you want without messing with game balance.
PPS: To drive my point home, here's some DRG merits I came up with:

Dragoon

General
Light Armor - Allows "of striking/scouting" gear to be glamoured on to of your equipment.
Robes - Allows "of casting/healing" gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Working Clothes - Allows DoL-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
Manufacturing Attire - Allows DoH-specific gear to be glamoured on to your equipment.
The Blue Gale - Allows access to a new hairstyle via the aesthetician (a long, thin ponytail)

Category 1
Bloody Trade - Adds blood particles to all your attacks while under the effect of Blood for Blood.
Temple Smash - Replaces Leg Sweep with Temple Smash (hit the target's head with the butt of the spear). Same effect, different animations.
High Jump - Replaces Elusive Jump. Jump off-screen instead of backflipping. Same effect, different animation.
Dragon Spirit - While under the effect of Blood of the Dragon, an ethereal dragon will hover around you.

Category 2
Highwind's Stand - Persistent Emote. Assume a pose associated with a famous azure dragoon.
Mounted Jump - Jump off your mount on to target enemy. Shares a cooldown with Jump. Cannot be used in PvP.
Leaps and Bounds - Increase the height and range of your jumps (the ones you perform pressing the space bar) and negates falling damage. Each jump consumes 50 TP. Effect ends upon reuse or having enmity/attacking mobs/taking damage.
Draconic Ward - Channeled effect. Creates a glowing mark at your feet with the DRG symbol for 10 seconds.

Note: Leaps and Bounds is basically a travel power of sorts. I got the idea from how Estinien just leaps around easily along with the DRGs seen in the opening cinematic, and is based on the Super Jump movement power from City of Heroes