(edited by Reax.1806)
Phantasms - AoE - Line of sight
Let’s assume a perfectly flat playing area with no LoS obstructions and you’re a full zerk mesmer specced for phant damage. There are warrior builds who can easily tank through, not to mention out maneuver your phantasms illuminating the threat of their DPS entirely. All while still being able to dish out solid burst damage back on the Mesmer. And I’m not even adding in the fact they can just 1 shot AA them dead.
Phantasm builds are in a far worse state in the meta than what you’re saying. They are a huge part of a Mesmers DPS after all.