Guild Wars 2

In control options, under Targeting tab we can find functions of targeting Nearest/Next/Previous enemy and Nearest/Next/Previous ally. While targeting enemies works nicely (for example swapping target to sacrificed player on Matthias raid boss), I find targeting allies useless feature, even if it sounds great (healer looking for low-health buddy?), because it simply does not ever target other players. NPCs, Rangers’ pets, even minis, but why not players?
Is it intentional (which, as I said, makes function useless) or just overlooked feature?

That’s true, I have noticed it while testing that command a while back. It cycled through NPCs, pets, minis etc but not players.

I believe it’s intentional. Originally we were not supposed to have dedicated healers. There were no single target heals, buffs or condition removals. By following anet logic this made selecting allies redundant.

Even if you do have a low health buddy you have to use an AoE heal, which does effectively make it redundant.

Unfortunately you have to find the said buddy first, which in a battle can be difficult.

I use “target next ally” all the time, when I have trouble selecting a node or an NPC. To target a player, I use the portraits/names of party/squad.