Playing as a healer this suggestion every time it comes up makes me cringe. "Good" news is that it sounds like they may make it an OPTION. But, since some people won't use that option, they wouldn't be able to take full advantage of the "Extra" hotbar space.

How about instead we:

1. Make AoE versions of _most_ Single Target abilities (if they don't already exist)
2. Make Single Target versions of _most_ AoE abilities (if they don't already exist)
3. Give everyone an AoE stance that replaces your single target abilities with the AoE counterpart when you turn it on (or, all attacks just cleave)

Biggest problem (IMO) is that jobs' "anemic" AoE kits are used way too much compared to their "real" single target rotations. This change would make gameplay the same between trash pulls and bosses and help people perfect their rotation. Not all abilities necessarily need to change since there are some AoE abilities that are used in single target and vice versa already.

Hell, just changing most OGCDs to be X Potency and XX% to enemies around the target would clean up some of the messiness. Especially on Samurai:

Have Shoha upgrade to Shoha II with a high potency plus AE fall-off damage

Combine Shinten and Kyuten into 1 ability with high potency plus AE fall-off damage

Have Tsubame replace Iaijutsu after using Iaijutsu

Combine Guren and Senei into a single attack with high potency plus AE fall-off damage

Combine Gyoten and Yaten into an ability similar to Icarus/Thunderclap that just takes you to a target

Have Ogi Namakiri replace Ikishoten