There was nothing really wrong with SMN in FFXI since they redid the class to fit an MMORPG setting. The players are what took SMN in a bad direction, simply because they could heal in past games doesn't mean they were yet another healer for FFXI, which is why they had zero native cures outside of Carbuncle and Garuda.

SMN was actually one of the more powerful jobs in the games, even more so post 75 cap raise, much like PUP, it was just under utilized by players which is why a good SMN/PUP were always given praise. Since in XIV they seem to be taking the Summon route towards player/free companies, I doubt we'll realistically see summoner as a job rather than we will as a class since they said SMNs will be able to summon lesser beings, so it's not really worth being a job, it can simply be a class.

Summoner horn though is a staple of the series, which they even "nudge" to in IX with Eiko and Professor Tot wondering about Garnet's lack of a horn. >.>