Quote Originally Posted by Nominous View Post
snip
That's not the point, and you can't analyse it like this for many reasons.
First, you can afford to bring PLD+DRK because the dps will bring the slashing debuff. This is an advantage of such a comp (if nothing else, an advantage of versatility).
Second, we're discussing job balance and viability.
Our premise in this setting can't be "there will always be a NIN", because if there's always a NIN, that's already a balance issue, isn't it?
If the conclusion is "any serious comp must have a NIN", then clearly NIN is too strong (and it is).

In an ideal world of almost-perfect balance where NIN isn't something that every comp should have, then SAM allowing you to run PLD+DRK just like NIN does is utility. You'd say "I need a slashing debuffer here", and that would be an attractive point and raid dps gain for both these jobs. Like it was mentioned earlier, the fact that you put buff and therefore have this overlapping (and this useless) utility tool hints at how one or both are a bit too strong.
When you can ignore a 500 raid dps bonus a job brings and it's still the part of the best comp... I dunno what to say about it that I haven't already.

Lastly, from a purely statistical viewpoint, it's bad to assume independence where it's unlikely. Which would technically be the most important takeaway, even if it's inconsequential to the conclusion x)