I'm devastated.

I really can't see any way that I'll be able to main summoner through the MSQ as I've done since I started due to the loss of a tank pet.

I play summoner because I don't like mobs hitting me or having to constantly dodge, when I'm playing. I mean sure, I have to do it with every other class and I use the chocobo liberally when doing that, but that isn't available in the solo instances.

I don't think I would have been able to do the 4.x solo fights at the end of Stormblood if I hadn't had Titan to tank.

I mean, sure, as these other pets have risen in prominence, it's become more challenging. For example, in neither of those scenarios was I able to call Bahamut because Titan would have vanished and I would have taken agro and been killed. But having the pocket tank was WAY more important to my success than not being able to use my full tool kit.

There are two hopes :
1) If Physic has become a real heal (scales on Int), then there might be a way.
2) If Titan's Earthen Armor + Pheonix medica is strong enough to keep up with all the incoming damage, SMN might be playable at 80 (when we get Pheonix)

But for levelling... I just don't see any way. I saw Larry's video of both the range and melee mobs attacking his character instead of the pet but that was a level 80 character fighting level 71 mobs. At level, I just don't see it as possible.

So I am now deciding between RDM and WHM as my main instead. RDM means I just need to get the weapon whereas WHM will need a fair bit more gear (I bought a full 380 set for SMN in what I was hoping was preparation for the xpac.

I am so very disappointed today. The worst fears from the live letter have come true.