Why no petless masterminds?

I've not gotten on Test yet, but from what I hear there are now customizable power sets for MA critters, but each set has one or two powers that cannot be removed. And apparently for Masterminds, one of those is the first pet. Is there any real reason for this? Yes, player Masterminds have weak attacks, but as I understand it all the MA power sets use the same damage scalar, regardless of what AT they came from. That means a minion with Pulse Rifle Burst and Pulse Rifle Blast should have exactly the same damage as a minion with Burst and Slug.

Why do I care? Because the Robotics set is the only way to get minions with laser guns. I really want minions with laser guns. Not laser guns and robots, just the lasers. Please? Can't the Masterminds' required powers be both single target attacks instead?

Is there some reason a MA critter with only the Pulse Rifle attacks (or only the Dual Pistol attacks) would be too weak when an Assault Rifle critter with only Burst and Slug is fine?

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Cascade, level 50 Blaster (NRG/NRG since before it was cool)
Mechmeister, level 50 Bots / Traps MM
FAR too many non-50 alts to name

[u]Arcs[u]
The Scavenger Hunt: 187076
The Instant Lair Delivery Service: 206636

Custom power sets are practically moot, according to the latest patch notes.

[ QUOTE ]
All Custom power selections now require all powers from the Standard power selection for that rank.

[/ QUOTE ]

If this is the direction they're going in, petless MMs have no chance. Regardless of rational arguments.

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Rise of the Copper Legion (#60280; with soundtrack)
The Fractured Dreamer (#498588; with musical theme)

"Now Leaving: Paragon City": original composition for the end of CoH

Well, I looked back at the damage values and it turns out the Mastermind attacks are weaker than I thought. They're significantly less powerful than the Assault Rifle attacks, so I guess requiring a pet is understandable.

So... how about this instead?

Devs, can you make two new MA only powersets for Dual Pistols and Pulse Rifle? Just copy the three Mastermind attacks, and adjust the damage to match Assault Rifle. The sets would only have three powers each, so they'd always be Standard difficulty, but that would still let us make laser gun or dual pistol toting enemies that are just as challenging as Standard rifle users.

(Or better yet, flesh out both of those sets into full player sets and give them to Blasters and Corruptors. I would love an energy rifle wielding Blaster. )

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Cascade, level 50 Blaster (NRG/NRG since before it was cool)
Mechmeister, level 50 Bots / Traps MM
FAR too many non-50 alts to name

[u]Arcs[u]
The Scavenger Hunt: 187076
The Instant Lair Delivery Service: 206636

PEW PEW!

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