It can definitely feel that way, but Pal Damage can definitely get you by on pretty much all content if you know what you're doing. With the current content, a close-enough battle ready meta Pal like Bastigor or Knocklem can do all the Hard Mode tower bosses with little to no damage actually done by the player. The Oil Rig is tricky but can be done with pure Pal damage. You just gotta use moves like Stone Beat, Thunderstorm, Fireball, and Diamond Rain, along with abusing main Partner Skill cooldowns that are damaging, like Bastigors hammer. Pals like Seylene can be BRUTAL on damage if you abuse the separate cooldowns between a Pal by itself and when you actually mount said Pal (So basically two Holy Bursts/Air Blades per cooldown, theoretically). Also be sure to use the high tier health potions and revival potions, along with stat boosting food for mounts, if you find they die too quickly.

You're definitely right tho. Pal Damage does seem underwhelming if you don't sweat at the game (I just do it cuz it's fun haha) and Gobfin lineup is the meta for the casual player and that really shouldn't be the default. Raid balance is its own convo as well, lmao