Often there's the argument that you 'make your own class' by using the skill system, with paladin (glad+conj) being the cited example. This doesn't exactly stand up either, you can make a paladin but 'subjob' abilities have longer recasts and only conj/thau can restore their mp (though I think they announced introduction of natural mp regen recently?).
Yes, your MP recovers now while you are in passive mode.
As for general combat mechanics, FFXIV sits in a weird place. It's like it can't make its mind up if it wants to be a button masher or an final fantasy rpg game. We mash 1 until we can hit maybe a 2 or 3, possibly hitting 9 or 0 before the 2 or 3 if we're feeling fancy. If it wants to be a button masher then we need controls to reflect that, make dodging easier, get rid of the nervous twitching that is active and passive mode. If they want to be more tactical we need to look at less commands per second but each command having more emphasis/importance. Possibly look at a variation on the ATB system. At the moment we have a button basher with tactical rpg style controls and it's not a good combination.
I totally agree with this.

I think this game needs more flashier animations. I love the freedom of the game, but all the attacks look the same. Not only should my character look like it is doing a different 'emote' with each attach but also the 'animation' should be more colorful and special enough to recognize as a so-and-so skill.

Take a look at TERA online. Lovely character movement with every skill, looks so smooth and natural instead of the same THM move with a blue or a red ball.

I think that would make the combat so much more interesting.