Balance, Homogenisation and Encounter Design: The Problem.

[ForteNightshade]

That's up to the players. From the game's perspective, it already doesn't matter now except in certain situations, like needing caster LB in a fight. As long as people feels the need to dictate what others play instead of accepting the diversity in choice that people have, what job you play will always be an issue. Balance is only needed as far as making sure all jobs are viable and nothing more.

This is a very flawed approach. If one job is vastly outperforming another, why should be accept taking the weaker one simply for diversity sake? Case in point, Ninja. There is simply no reason to bring it outside of someone wanting to play it and your group being cool with it. If that happens to be the case, cool. But I'm not going to fault someone for passing when the remaining three melee are vastly superior.