AST "needing" and AoE dot is really just an option to improve the job's personal DPS. AST is perfectly powerful in a group with proper card usage, but the worst in the game solo.

I say hold it til next level cap just so we don't have further power creep. I think it'd be more of a QoL improvement. I'd actually the job gain skills that aren't tied into the cards next patch.

Though, the gravity/synastry swap of skills would be a game changer as far as QoL goes for AST!