Well, as others have said, with 2.0 comes new lore that will 'make more sense' That said, I must say, after living with the CNJ/THM changes over the past couple months, overall I REALLY like them...esp CNJ (which surprises me a little as I was solidly in camp CNJ should be BLM/WHM make THM something else). But I think CNJ with a little rewriting, will actually fit into Gridania and it's 'Elemental Worship' very well. Afterall, CNJ's are NOT trying to commune with the Elementals to destroy, but rather to heal and protect. CNJ functions more like a Celtic Druid/Priest etc. So CNJ's learn to respect the nature and elementals around them, and also have learned how to harness their power for protection and healing.

The 'then why do they get a couple Elemental Nukes? thing is well, one, for practicality (not lore CNJ needed to damage deal somehow) and two, the 2 nukes we kept are potentially as protective and healing as they are destructive(Air-breath of life/tornado Stone, armor/quake). This could explain why CNJ kept these 2 nukes instead of getting 2 new ones etc.

And yes, while I get 'well the storyline is not there yet,' or even more so, how if you were a new player ranking up CNJ without knowing the class could cast all the Elemental spells less than 3 months ago that some of the Class storyline quests could be downright confusing, I can already see and feel in-game how they are changing this guild a bit to fit more the 'tree-hugger, elemental priest' role.

For example: while the exact quest to unlock BLM on THM is yet to be seen (as are it's exact requirements), I'd would not be surprised if the reason it requires THM30/CNJ15 is in fact because the storyline revolves around a THM who in seeking more destructive power, goes to study with the CNJ guild to learn what they know of the elementals. Maybe this THM is sneaky about it...say's he wants to become a protector of the forrest etc, (Gridanians are afterall, suspicious of outsiders) and instead uses their knowledge in a twisted, destructive way...to the dismay of the peaceful guild. Again, this is speculation, as the story line for BLM is not yet out, but just making a point that SE can and will more than likely somehow tie it all together...we are just in a weird limbo 'between two games atm'.

Lastly, keep in mind CNJ is a base class that once the game is further along in development, and we have many many more quests, and more jobs to unlock will make more sense in the scheme of things. After all, it is plausible that those who already speak with the Elementals will one day learn how to Summon them, and possibly other mobs, on command (summoner).

But honestly, I am eager to see how they make it all work, as they have finally made CNJ play the way I thought it would when I set foot in Eorzea for the first time outside Gridania with my Weathered Cane, on the beginning of this very rocky, uphill adventure known as FFXIV. The class is dynamic and fun now. (Storyline can be re-written)