Keep in mind as I post this, my lancer is only 15 and my dragoon in ffxi was around 30ish. Regardless of a pet or not, I might not level it. However just because I dont level a job, doesnt mean I cant appreciate it.
May not be my place to say, but I hope Dragoon does get a pet...or some extreme buff for flying enemies. Thats from just FF lore love, even 11...which is why I bought this game, for FF, even XI.

To suggest we shouldn't or should put something in just because it was in FFXI is foolish in my opinion. Many things to me I do believe XI got right, had it right and screwed it up, or eventually had it right.
For example, although it didn't play a big part in XI, I liked how many advanced jobs had some buff against different kinds of enemies. It added some strat ontop of SC and elemental bonuses.

As for the pet itself, I thought it was a nice addition to XI. That and summoner (and pup later on). I hardly touched these jobs myself, all three around 30ish...however it was great to see them on my team. It made them look more unique and made me feel more unique for being my role. I've read through alot of these pages, and the most I'm seeing more or less against the pet is just because XI did it. Although I agree one a few that not all drgs in FF had pets, it still believe it'd be great to have.

I think we need pets in one way or another. We need to somehow make these classes more unique. I question how classes and jobs will be at 2.0 (I personally believe...not hope...but believe classes will be wiped for their job counterparts), but again I hope they do get the pet.