Staves seem just as lackluster in POE2 as in games like D4

Staves need REWORKED, Period.
I feel like this should be addressed before release of full game.
When you trade off your ability to equip a spirit granting scepter or a focus, then you darn well deserve a pay-off of equal or greater gain.

Sacrificing an entire def/off slot aka Focus,Shield,scepter etc., means you are getting less energyshield, life, res, mana, everything in general. THERE NEEDS TO BE A PAYOFF for such a sacrifice such as:

Wands can be 5spell skills plus focus +2 meaning +7 overall
Staves then should be able to craft +8

If focus plus wand can acquire an added +spell/element damage of like 250% total
Example: Wand has +75 spell damage +50 lightning spell dmg and focus also has then you have a total of 250% lightning spell damage, then a Staff should yield somewhere like +50% more bc of the fact that it doesnt also grant doubled faster cast rate, defense stats etc!

This is VERY SIMPLISTIC dev work that I feel is just being ignored bc mage builds happen to have Meta build regardless of the fact. That shouldn't matter, bc otherwise the item is useless af and shouldnt exist anyways. Why trade FCR, damage, stats etc for a slower casting, lesser damage variant of a weapon slot???

You're not wrong...

I just view this as New Game, Same Problems. Sad they don't learn from (m)any mistakes in POE 1. If anything, there were several steps taken backwards on things that were "fixed" in POE 1 and are now present again in POE 2.

Well, thanks man. I am just trying to do my part and add constructive criticism in the hope that they may address it.....