A BIG problem a lot of people have it seems is that classes and their respective jobs do not differ enough, not in capabilities or even in the very concepts of "class" and "job".

Reconsider how classes are designed, by making them more horizontally forcused, leaving the more vertical focus for jobs.

Here's my GLD/PLD example:

As it stands right now, GLD is a tank job, and PLD is a tank job who is (supposed) to be the king at tanking. GLD was supposed to be a little more capable at dealing damage, but the actual benefit is too small.

So how about removing say 3 (possibly more) defensive abilities and 2 (possibly more) defensive traits (obviously any that are tied to the removed abilities) and give GLDs 3 offensive/support based abilities and 2 offensive/support based traits.

So let's just say (just an example, don't have a heart attack) Gladiator loses War drum, Aegis Boon, and Sentinel for abilities and the Enhanced Sentinel and Swift Aegis Boon traits.

To replace those give GLD, an ability that temporarily enhances weapon skill damage, an ability that DRASTICALLY increases the ease of destroying an enemies body part,, and an ability that enhances defense of all OTHER party members (OTHER meaning not himself). And to replace the 2 traits, give him one trait that increases accuracy, attack, and attack rate when not wearing a shield (this is kinda how they originally described the class) and a trait that enhances weapon skill damage.

With this, the class becomes more horizontally focused and more of a "Jack of all Trades", still has the ability to equip 10 other class abilities (which would probably be different since all classes would under go a similar change). Don't worry about classes stepping on each others toes so much.

THEN, when the character changes to PLD, he loses those "new" GLD abilities and traits, and gains the ones they have now.

PLD still is the "King of Tanking" (SANS WAR), and PLD and GLD have more reason to coexist within the same game, with this type of character set up (class+job).

Also, and I'm not saying that SE will do this (I can only hope), if SE decides to tie multiple Jobs to each individual class, the difference between that specific classes jobs would be greater, but still related to the original class.

P.S. - Remove the weapon = class thing. Pretty please? With a Lalafel on top?