Why is the healer class basically a one spell dps class?

[Dzian]

....

The thing is its often those things that allow you to break the rules in some way that are actually the fun and engaging ones. And ultimately become a lot more interesting and engaging to use.

Holmgang as you mentioned did allow you to break the rules In certain ways but it was also heavily restricted in others. Such as actually needing a target in order to use it. Where pld could just pop hallowed whenever they feel like...

And as the famous slides from beta and stuff show.

FUN should always come first. If it isn't fun you're doing it wrong.

Not obsession with accessibility. Not obsession with balance. But actual fun, rewarding and engaging gameplay.

Stats are simple and boring,
materia is simple and boring. crit crit crit....
gear is simple and boring. only ilevel matters.
healers are simplified and boring everything that made them fun like 4.0 ast cards has been butchered.
tanks are simple and boring. they're basically all the same.
same again with dps.. so much homogenization. boriiing.

Simple and shallow is ultimately dull and boring. Which is not fun. which then means they're doing it wrong..

I really wish I could find it but someone did something about FFXIV and how it knows its ABC. Accessible Balanced Casual.. but totally forgets the rest of the alphabet. Deep Engaging Fun Gameplay etc etc. continuing all the way to Z