AST main here, though I don't do savage raiding or ultimates, but I feel like my opinion is still valid to a degree.

Removing anything that made AST a challenging job is actually quite disappointing as it leaves no room for people to just play with an RNG system or better yet play the way they want to play. I left WHM after ARR since I didn't like just spamming heals or dps, because I wanted more and AST was that answer. I enjoyed it the most in Stormblood as much as I dislike that expansion I will always say that was when AST shined the brightest out of all the healers. Removing the perks of having a shield or regen healer or cutting abilities away from the card system was the worst decision this team has ever made in my opinion as it no longer let players play the way they want with the job. I miss being able to enhance my cards or give an aoe spread for my cards. Now the the cards are basically no longer part of a system that made AST an AST and the RNG system of AST made the job fun for those who main it within this game.

This may be the final nail in the coffin for me as AST was the last job I actually enjoyed. Was excited for Pictomancer, but if my favorite job/class of all time in any MMO is being burned by this dev team like this I won't stick around to see the ashes. If I was doing the savage or ultimate content I would definitely drop healing all together due to this as playing another version of WHM isn't fun for me and I'm sure for anyone else who deeply cares for AST.

Those who say that they main AST and like the changes I truly believe never gave the job a real chance to flourish on their screen.

I personally would like to see them revert AST back to Stormblood or even Heavensward (after they fixed it's MP regen issues) version, but that time has sadly come and gone. Good Job FFXIV Dev team for killing imo the best healer ever made in an MMO. Please revert your decision to these changes.