Yes they are categorically weaker, but still being taken and not bared out of content by the community like PLD was in 3.x, while kit wise pld had a niche, but let us be frank I rather be a sub par job compared to the other jobs but still have a slot, unlike pld in 3.x which was mocked and bared by the community from most end game content.

So fact of the matter the community has yet to shut the door on DRK so we can still play a tanking class we enjoy without being mocked by the community. So yeah I disagree that 3.x plds were better off, being has pld players had to deal with community backlash, while DRK has yet to reach that point yet.