Every class has its role, but if that class dies, it's not the end of the world. If a tank goes down, it's not always an instant wipe. In moogle, for instance, a tank can go down and everyone can recover without too much difficulty. As for CNJ... I've had to deal with tanking on CNJ and lived to tell the tale. However, I can't hold hate like a tank can, and keep a mob in a certain place like a tank can. It's also MUCH harder for me to survive, and forget about it if I get hit with a high damage ability.

Although, I will agree with you that GEAR should matter a little bit more. I understand that this game is about skill (and yes, if you are skilled enough, you can beat everything no problem), but I do think that 'skill' should be rewarded in some way. Right now, these items are good, but too many are simply aesthetic, as is proved by the reindeer runs.

So, I think 'difficulty' level is fine, but gear should matter a bit more than it currently does. Also, a reward for beating something faster than others, or beating a more difficult version of it (hard mode) would be nice too... especially for the less casual of players who spend time and effort perfecting their kill strategies.