If we *really* want this AT to work, what about several things:
The AT gets a high mod for mezzes and the chance of them occurring in melee powers is improved (maybe even some added). It's still basically melee mezzing but at least it'd be potent.
Secondly, maybe the inherent could be some kind of partial mez protection like Blasters, but able to use the 1st power in their prim/sec, the 2nd power in their prim, and the tier 9 of their primary?
Thirdly, replace the tier 1 of their secondary with a sort of wide area PBAoE -range and mild taunt. If you get mezzed, you can click it and *force* the enemy to either not be able to attack you from range or come close and attack you from range. It'd still be risky though but hey, you could get BU and Soul Drain and then bust out with Whirling Hands for a ridiculous stun effect to the poor suckers that had to close distance with you.
And we could add in a few ranged attacks. Not many, but maybe have it more like a Melee/Assault set than a melee/melee, so your secondary would give you more melee attacks but also a few ranged attacks and maybe a second Build Up.
Melee mez set sounds great though. How about have all your melee attacks confer a -Status Resist debuff, so that the more you wail on someone, the longer they remain stunned?
NPCs: A Single Method to Greatly Expand Bases
Sometimes they don't attack you after seeing you.
This can be seen if you SS close to a rikti group and the drones spot you early.
They will turn to look at you and not fire.
Infact that's how I learned they saw through stealth abilities.
I was running up on a group and stopped to talk on vent and two drones turned to face me and I went "Oh **** they can see me...what are the doing." to which someone responded "They can smell your fear don't move".