Isn't this class trinity a bit dated now?

[BlueMageQuina]

I do understand how the queues could be longer, or how support roles could be deemed either useless or mandatory. I understand these things but I don't like how most posts are quick to dismiss the support option as opposed to trying to balance it in the system.

I'm sure that giving a support role access to both its support abilities and decent DPS (or tanking or healing) could even out and eliminate any real loss in DPS. This would have to be balanced as to not make the job mandatory through potentially working similarly to our current Bard; using a separate stance for DPS, support or both. The DPS stance would raise DPS to decent levels (think Wanderer's Minuet/Cleric Stance) while support functions (such as buffs in the case that everyone has been talking about) are perhaps unavailable outside the support stance, or the support stance gives the support abilities the strength, potency or duration to be useful.

Many support functions could work in a situational way alike Bard support options: why regenerate TP with a song if no one needs it? Or maybe the effect is situational in that it only works on a party member with x% of HP or who has performed the least amount of damage to the target. They could work in a pre-pull way like WHM's Protect, or only be available outside battle like WHM's Stoneskin II. Maybe abilities consume a certain amount of stacks like SUM/SCH Aetherflow. Another option is to make more RNG support like AST. These options, amongst others that may be thought of, may provide a limit to that infinite buff-casting found in other games in such a way that makes buffing useful but not overpowered and mandatory.

But let's not forget that debuffing and hybrid classes may also be deemed support, not just buffing classes. While debuffing with skills other than damage over time may be awkward in this game because essentially all bosses are immune to many debuffs (sleep, slow or heavy though stun, silence and blind are still options amongst other things), hybrid classes such as the Red Mage—which appeared as a DPS and healer and NOT a buffer in all FFs other than FFXI—are still a viable thing that, yes, can be balanced.

And I'm positive that enabling one of the DPS positions in a party to be filled by EITHER a support OR DPS role, as opposed to letting support have its own permanent position would eliminate the long queue times that people are so afraid of.

Support roles are likely to never happen. I get it. But let's not jump to the conclusion that it couldn't work—that it couldn't be balanced and that it couldn't be altered so that it doesn't mess with queue times—without any attempt to find a balance.