What about creating an ACTUAL Dark Knight?

[Reynhart]

End game was usually cecil, kain, edge in front for me and rosa, rydia in back, idk how other people did it, that was just the formation that made the most sense to me.

Yes, does that make Dragoons and Ninjas tanks, yet ?

The concept of "tanking" doesn't really exist in other games outside of FFXI, so what job fits what role is largely up to your imagination.

Provoke and Cover are skills designed for you to take hits instead of you party member, that's the concept of tanking outside of MMO, and it existed since FF III.

In FFXIV, Paladins are historically trained as bodyguards who swear oaths in service of the Sultanate. Dark Knights, on the other hand, swear allegiance to no master. Their only duty is to follow their hearts, to protect the weak against injustice, and to punish evil as they see fit.

Which makes DRK much closer to the usual lore related to Paladins. While you roam with Sidurgu trying to protect a little girl from a corrupted church, Paladins are running around Eorzea to measure the size of their...sword.