I love PLD pre-Requiescat. It is the game's one shield-bearing job and the animations are satisfying going from the start up to Heavensward. I find the magic rotation to be immensely unsatisfying and even now that we are able to move while casting somehow it feels like dookie. Though like, it's also this games closest thing to a caster tank, so I'm glad it's there for people who like it.

Likewise I prefer SAM up until about early 60s and the gameplay from 70 onward doesn't sit well with me. The ability to repeat the last iaijutsu has no appeal to me and I don't like all of the Shinten spam.