maybe arcanist will solve your thunfer archer dreams, suggest ideas that will create something you want to play, rather than something that will be like something you played before.
Charachter uniqueness can come from jobs, or traits without sacrificing the good parts about what armory brings to the table.

If charachters had unique movements for thier own weapon skills, that alone would make people feel like classes were unique, after all dragon kick felt like some special monk skill, when really all it was was 2 hit weaponskill. howling fist? thats just a 1 hit weapon skill, dime a dozen.

I remember early on when they said that your elemntal affinities would effect things on multiple jobs, maybe that needs to happen. I really like ideas that make us better, i dont think we gain much gameplay wise by limiting ourselves even more, how is that entertaining?
If you took all the cross class skills off your lancer, would it be more fun, or less fun? i think the answer is probably less fun. and youd be even more bland run of the mill lancer, you will also have the same stats as everyone else probably if people have what they want.

why get mad at cookie cutter builds, if you want to them to force us into cookie cutter builds?