SMN skillchains are not that efficient anyway, what element are their atks? We arent that sure yet and plus what SMN actually uses their pet to fight in a prolonged period? Most buff, special atk or whatever then go back to conserve MP. Also the Blood Pact timer is set to 1 minute, therefore if they SC they cannot MB and they cannot also do other jobs. Not to mention the BloodPact timer might also limit their options when they CAN SC or not after casting a buff. Without the timer i would say its more convienent, otherwise its not viable to SC with a SMN due to Bloodpact timer and MP issues.

BRD buffs are in a TOTALLY different league than the SMNs, Acc up and things like that are BRD only and are much more efficient than whatever a SMN can do. Avatars also have lower life than the pet, the pet is EM most likely and have thousands of HP while the pet is very limited in HP. While they can be controlling the mob it really depends on the party set up, do you have a RDM or WHM there? What tank? Otherwise your MP will run clean dry if you have a link and need to main heal at the same time.

RDMs are not intended to be the most super well-rounded in a party in the sense of meleeing anyway. They miss tons, and who would want to swap out mage gear for something like Life Belt or Sniper Rings anyway?

Even if they did their accuracy with a B Sword will miss alot especially as the lvls go higher and higher, and their atks arent going to be up to snuff. Not that a B Sword even at low lvls suck, its just they dont have the right upgrades than a WAR. And who would sub WAR and give up Conserve MP, elemental seal, Aspir and Drain? And thats only a BLM sub. Theres another set of better abilities in a WHM sub. RDM at battlia with Enspell=0 dmg + 0 additional dmg on IT..that RDM didnt melee more than that battle...

I have no trouble with RDM meleeing as long as they do their job of refreshing and enfeebling as their job is to support, not melee and do it all. Also if the monster as AoE, stay away that minute and dont make me waste MP on you. What they were before Dispel and Refresh spells were added, was that they were pretty balanced..and they were broken at that time. Efficientcy is alot when things are 13K tnl...and later 36K tnl...but the point is that, you are a unit in the party, and not many people understand that a unit is like a chain, only as good as their weakest member.