redmages

What's the point of this job if not for the refresh? I just got out of a pt where we had some asshole named SMG as our rdm. Wer'e fighting a goblin mercenary and I'm getting my ass handed to me. I asked for refresh 4 times, and he did not cast it. on anyone. Instead, he's meleeing. Well...

Im getting close to lvl 51 rdm. and I was wondering that if its required for rdms to have the elemtel staffs? I know blms and whm do, but I like to melee and I want to buy a temple sword(lvl 52, dmg 32 i think). I want to know if PTs expect a rdm to have the staffs.