The way I see it, at launch, the Gladiator should have never gotten shield skills to begin with. Rampart I & II, Ambidexterity (or at least what it became), and Self-Preservation. Those *should* have been Sentinel skills. And then Gladiator could have gotten some other nifty abilities in between instead.

(Since they had a shield out, they would have earned all those abilities anyway after the first November patch, heheh).

Granted, as a mage, once passive mode casting was initiated, MP recovery, AND emergency switch-to-level-50-job-to-avoid-wipe options were available, active mode didn't seem so great anymore. Before 1.18, I don't think I used as many shield skills as a caster. 1.18, had some difficulty solo'ing leve and Aegis Boon gave some breathing room in those darn Humblehearth leves. 1.19, don't think I've touched a shield skill on my mage.

Ironically, the only reason why I kept the shield in 1.19, was to build up Sentinel to eventually use it on my Gladiator. Until they adjust the passive mode for mages or until Spirit/Phantom Dart become worthwhile moves again, I don't foresee myself using active mode as a mage outside of screen shots.

continued tangent:
I think a lot of people tho are having to get used to things they used to have.
Gladiators using Cover to protect people will be dry until jobs come out.
Lancers with their Speed Surge's melee haste.
Marauders with their Storm's Path for affordable serious AoE damage.

Although I do admit, Thaumaturge seems to have gotten the largest overhaul of all the classes.