Honestly we don’t really have a niche as it currently stands. We’re just a throughput healer. That won’t change until we get something unique to bring (that Brew or WW can’t provide) or until the HPS gap between us and utility healers is so large that we’re a necessity.
It doesn’t matter for the content most players do, including myself. But it’d still be nice to see MW representation in world first content, and not have a stigma attached to our spec.
The melee spot is pretty odd. There are definitely fights where I wish I’d be treated as a ranged (Sludgefist). But for a lot of fights it shouldn’t really make a difference. The issue is generally there when mechanics create space issues for melee players (Sludge again, or that Hydra looking boss in Uldir, I forget the name).
I wish WoW had a truly support based class - designed completely around buffing allies and debuffing enemies. No healing involved.