Looking through this thread... man, I miss HW's DRK. Mained the job all the way to ShB and dropped it for En Avant... I mean, dancer.
This is purely from the perspective of someone who doesn't do savage raiding and completely anecdotal but it feels like it's been on a steady decline with regards to its identity since it was first introduced. Back then it felt... distinct, not unlike how GNB feels, although tbh DRK felt even better. I actually liked how darkside constantly drained your MP. As much as I think Living Dead sucks as an invuln compared to the other tanks' invulns, it actually has a bit of flavor to it... and that's what I feel it lacks nowadays.

As a former DRK main, I, too, lost my shit during the ability reveal trailer when I saw us summon Fray... but when it got time to take the new DRK for a drive, the novelty wore off way too quickly as I found myself spamming Bloodspiller between oGCDs.

As an aside, I think SE has yet to strike gold twice when it comes to coming up with a tank melee ability that feels as good to do as Fell Cleave. There's a certain something to its animation that makes you go "mmmm!! yeah!" as your axe rips through your target. Bloodspiller, by comparison, feels flaccid and bland, no matter how many twirls you do with that greatsowrd or how many "darkness lazors" appear.