Targeting on controller adds APM regardless of its a GCD or oGCD but you have far more wiggle room to soft target in a Insta-cast GCD (which is why I actually quite like phlegma) that also double as the initial action (because you can queue it) than weaving it into an unrelated GCD damage option

AST is always going to be harder on controller but I do think the difference in relative difficulty is a bit too high right now, controller being disadvantaged I do think is one of the valid reasons to change a job (whereas say liking the aesthetics of the hard job in your role but wanting said job to be easy is not), it’s the same reason as on since square refuses to adapt Alexander into a feature I support changes that benefit people that suffer from poor ping