DPSing as a healer

[winsock]

Hi, I'm a newbie playing a White Mage and there's one issue 'd like to clarify. I know that generally I am expected to DPS whenever I can, but I was wondering whether doing it isn't a "waste of mana" in some cases. I'm talking about long boss fights. DPSs do more damage than me, right? So in a sitution when there's no time limit/enrage mechanics etc, but mana can become an issue, wouldn't it be better to focus solely on healing to keep other ppl alive for longer, and therefore allow the party as a whole to deal more dmg (and hopefuly kill a boss) before I run out of mana and ebcome unable to heal? Wouldn't mana spent on Stone II eventually result in more dmg if it was used on Cure?

A few things to keep in mind:
* Mana left in your bar at the end of the boss fight is also a waste.
* Your performance w/o dps wont be considered as good or as skillful as your performance with dps.
* "Long Boss Fights" usually occur (or at the very least, occur in part) because of poor party DPS, so the DPS you do provide in this scenario will likely be more valuable than it normally is.

IMO, stopping dps should be the 'last option'.
On a short boss fight, Time efficiency > MP efficiency. Use Cure II over Cure I to limit your time out of cleric stance, only use Aero I over Stone III on a situation specific basis, etc.
In a long boss fight, MP efficiency can be > Time efficiency. Leaning towards more Cure I's/Freecures and using more Aero I's as part of the 'standard' dps rotation is preferable to halting all dps.