Oh no dont think that THF is useless with a PLD. However just most PLDs seem to say they are better off without one sometimes. The proper positioning for SATA to go off sometimes isnt worth it they say. PLD can easily generate alot of hate even at the lower levels if they are smart about it, and hence why they do not like THFs because unlike NIN or WARs, they have the least ammount of problem holding hate. THF are not useless with PLD tanks, its just most do not prefer them and other tank classes would love to have them more.

At level 60 THF gets the ability of Assasin, where you dont have to be behind the monster to SATA to transfer hate, and you can just TA behind the tank while facing the monster to transfer the hate. Its helpful but lvl 60 only. The dmg that TA does is not as much alone even with Assasin(its WAY better than pre-assasin, but its still doesnt equal up to SATA), but its very useful. If you guys are very fast and coordinated SATA would be less than 4 seconds and it might be helpful. I hope you see what i mean.

Also one thing i want to correct is that around lvl 50s DRK get Vorpal Scythe which opens Distortion, so add that to the list of people THFs can SC with. Also DRKs at lower levels if they use GSword can use Power Slash to open Distortion even though its inferior to Vorpal Scythe, its a lower level.

Play the class that you truly want to especially if you are staticing. Statics mean that you are not at the mercy of certain jobs being online most of the time and can be very very good. If you want to be DRK, do so, if you wanna be DRG, do so! Be what you wanna be really. You are paying for the game too ^^

As for gil try farming on bees and crawlers, they do drop very good stuff. I have to farm pretty hard too to get some good gears and i am sure anyone that wanted those great gears had to farm to get them. All jobs are expensive if you wanna do them good. Just do your best and your abilities usually will show with that work. I sugguest actually not leveling sometime, and plan out with your friends what possible gears they would like to buy(probably something possible..if its like a Haubergeon it might depend on how close your friends are >_>;a) and actually devise ways to get the item instead of leveling all the time. Statics are not limited to exp only, and can easily benefit one another if played right and with certain players, the ammount of trust. a