DRK aoe is consider better for the self-healing and mitigation it offers at the same time if you do it properly not for the damage witch WAR is superior easily specially since the encounters don't live more that 2 min and they have plenty strong CDs, so its mostly an illusion of being extremly good bcs feels and looks strong but they are more comparable that ppl thinks, DRK sustain himself better and WAR burn everything faster before that become a problem, and I don't think WAR need generate gauge when every time they use a gauge skill (except onslaught and upheaval) reduce the cast of infuriate already.

About OP I believe PLD need more aoe options, even a magic one that works with requiem cast like a direct upgrade of flash under requiem or something, his damage and aoe combinations are too basic and low to feel good to play with it at least for me.