The largest problem FFXIV is facing is the fact that we have so many party-wide buffs flying around that the jobs based around having those can't reasonably be powerful without outright deleting selfish dps. Ranged physical dps can't become strong because combined with other jobs with dps utility, they'll start outclassing the selfish. We can't balance the physical ranged around having better personal dps either because then atleast half the melees will feel invalidated due to them having to work more for uptime, and casters will feel shafted due to, you know, having cast times.

Pretty much the entire game would require a rebalance if we want "real" balance, so the party shackle bonus if the best we've got for now, quite frankly.

Though I would personally prefer living as a bowmage for the time being if that's what it takes. I like playing as a Bard because of the snazzy fukkin outfits, the bow and the "job fantasy" associated with it, atleast let me be powerful if you're going to take away the fantasy.