I think a less cumbersome DS would go a long way, as i suspect a lot of people avoid firing up DS unless they really want to crank out those blasts or LT (unless they play around with the trick of quick-tapping DS to gain boons and such, and have it traited for 5 sec cooldown).
As far as i can tell, no other profession has a as their custom mechanic something similar.
I would much prefer seeing a DS that behaved somewhat like Grenth’s Reaper. Providing some kind of benefit but otherwise leaving me able to utilize the setup i have tuned my traits around.
Dagger has a immobilize, Death shroud has teleport as part of Dark Path, Spectral Graps is supposed to bring the target to you, and Bone Fiend can also immobilize when Rigor Mortis is activated. There are also various skills that put a Chill (-66% movement) or Cripple (-50% movement) condition on the target.
I speculate that the theme behind the scepter and axe is sympathetic magic.
Best guess is that they think we will pop DS to absorb the damage rather than avoid it.
It seems necro dagger do not get aoe because dagger do not grant aoe as a rule. So instead of making an exception for necros, how about replacing dagger with sword? Optionally still holding it reverse grip and using the same general animation.
An alternative to removing DS would be to split it into parts, so that it is easier to fit into the cycle without the all or nothing deal at present.
Right now it is a modified down state, and as such is even more jarring than popping a transformation like Lich or Plague. The other professions do not have their whole UI vanish when they trigger their F-key abilities, and so has a easier time working them into their rotations.