Thanks for the reply but how is F1-F8 any less cumberstone? I can't even reach those keys while keeping my hand near my healing keybinds, especially not F5 - F8. Click targeting seems viable and I've been doing it in WoW for 15 years. Granted I also had click-to-cast functionality via Vuhdo or Clique but that's not a big deal.

I guess it does make a little more sense if you are left handed with right on keyboard, having your thumb down by shift and ctrl. Most people are right hand dominant though and keep their left hand on their keyboard with their fingers around WASD and use their pinky for tab and shift modifiers in my experience. BTW healers definitely can't huddle in corners in WoW. They do tend to keep more distance than healers in FFXIV.

I'm going to be bold and say your set up might not be how most players choose to do it but I'm still a newbie here. More answers please!