How Would You Design Red Mage!?

[Eremor]

And this distinction should not exist

Unfortunately as long as more then one person is playing the game this distinction will always exist

All we can do is try to mitigate it as best we can with balances or play with good friends who just want to play the jobs they like and let others do the same.

As for BRD vs RDM, I can't speak for after the level cap was raised past 75 but at 75 a competent BRD with a good dagger could easily out DPS a RDM because they had access to better weaponskills (Dancing Edge) and because their buffs were superior to anything RDM had.

Not that that matters at all here with Barcher, which gives me a good idea, RDM DPS should probably be best compared to Bard damage here, I think that would be a good target goal.