Why is BRD considered "support"

[Sylve]

Then I will say I think the developers are boneheads. I don't see why they think our difference in utility is worth a 15% damage difference.

Bards and Machinists are the only 2 Jobs that have the ability to provide consistent, reliable and on demand TP/MP Regen with no cooldown outside of MP Regen (which can be assisted via Ewers and MP Pots).
Bard is till the only one able to provide a constant Magic Damage effect, Though the MCH effects are quite powerful when used despite the lower uptime.
They also happen to fall under the Support category because of this.

The main reason their DPS falls shy of other classes is their ease of damage output coupled with a high degree of mobility. Less so with Minuet and Gauss to be sure, but its still significantly less damage loss for a BRD/MCH to constantly move from AoEs.
You know, there was a time when BRDs were the only acceptable DPS and a Melee was brought only to use Limit Break. Those were terrible times.

Lets look it at it from this perspective. Imagine for a moment that all DPS classes had identical DPS output with no change in utility skills.
Now for BRD and MCH you have what is basically a DRG that attacks from range, while moving semi freely while also providing resource benefits to allies and damage bonuses for casters and each other while also providing damage downs on top of what a Tank brings to the fight.
Why would you take anything else?