Armor. Theme. Look. Flavor. Mechanics.
But - and this is a point you overlook - it is about the only point of similarity between the classes. The two classes otherwise have different themes, looks, feel, flavors, armors, abilities, and so on. the same cannot be said for a Warlock-DH comparison where Warlocks and DHs have the same theme which needs to be explored, DHs cannot get their traditional look because Warlocks have it, many abilities are shared between the class and the NPC models and so on. While differences in the exact toolkit exist, the main difference lies in that one is melee...and the other ranged.Mages and DK's use Frost spells
And again...does it matter what you call it if the gameplay effect is exactly the same.The same plausibly exists between Demon Hunters and Warlocks, since Demon Hunters do not actually summon or borrow Demonic powers, they literally absorb and redirect it.
A DH will almost certainly to be able to summon a Demon so he can empower himself when Demons are not available around him.
And the gameplay differences between absorb and redirect vs sacrifice do not exist. Both start of with a demon; both get rid of it and empower the caster.
Only if you overlook the other differences that exist, differences that are of a level to guarantee that Mages could never take on a DK look, them, flavor or whatever, differences that mean that Mages and DKs have their own design space - something a DH can never have. The comparison is about as valid as that of a Paladin and Priest....less so, because Paladins and Priests at least have something of a shared history.If you say that it doesn't matter, then by that same logic, Mages and Death Knights could be the same because they cast Frost spells.
You may indeed say that DHs absorb and redirect Demon Power. Blizzard may indeed decide to canonise that explanation, to make it actually work that way. And it would still be irrelevant because gameplay wise, there would be no difference... none at all. You start with a demon. You kill it. You get its power.
Take a look at Grimoire of Sacrifice. Then tell me Warlocks can't off their demon and take its power for their own. Then point out to me the difference between that and a DH killing a demon and absorbing its power for his own.
No...they didn't. Paladins fill an entirely different niche with a different theme, look, armor, etc from Priests Beyond a shared school of magic, they share next to nothing in common.Yes, they take all that and give it to Paladins (with different lore, mechanics and aesthetics). They can do the same with DH.
You want to go from Pandaria to the Blasted Lands to get a demon for you to absorb power from? if DHs end up with meaningful ability to absorb power from demons, then they will need the ability to summon a demon simply to ensure they don't need to travel the world looking for one.P.D: I'm not understanding why DH should have any summon ability.
And where does it say that?
As it is - if you are talking about a meaningful ability, then you are talking about an ability which has the same role and function as Sacrificing a Demon. If you are talking about a permanent ability, then you are talking about a lore based effect that has no ability on gameplay.
EJL