in every other mmo-- bards can party buff and buff themselves.

why play a bard in this game? You can play a cleric and do this bards job much better, as well as buff your self. They have to make bard more powerful and unique otherwise there is no reason to play one.

If i wanted to be a spellcaster-- id play a sorceror.

in fact that class can buff and cast better than the bard.