Whose class identity? And what identity even is that? Just because you have a certain image in your mind doesn't mean everybody else does.

I mean each class should ideally have things that makes them unique, both visually and mechanically, and even better when individual specs have both of those as well. The shadowform for an instance is great because it is visually distinct, but it also help emphasize the difference between shadow and the other specs as it puts shadow magic front and center.

So it has a gameplay, an aesthetic, and a thematic value.

And it is not in my mind, it is literally a distinct part of the shadow priest, pretty fair to assume that basically everyone thinks of shadowform when they think of shadow priests, it is not arbitrary or random.

Are you saying I shouldn't be able to do that?

No you can do that, doesn't mean you should get to change the look of your abilities to they look like paladin abilities though.

There's more to a class than its looks. Nothing wrong with changing cosmetic things to fit what you like given it affects nobody but yourself.

Well looks is part of it, it is not all of it, but it is certainly a meaningful aspect of a class. And it does have a function beyond looks currently.

And I think it would be a bad thing to not draw a line in the sand somewhere, players shouldn't get to decide all of these things, sometimes the designers of a game are well within the right to make these decisions.

And again, there is an inherent difference between something that is optional, and something that is not.

But let's just agree to disagree here, neither of us are gonna change our mind.