Don't know about the Monk, but I do know about the bruiser. I was in a full group, taking on some red named mob at the then current max level. We wiped very early, when the mob was at 70% health. The Bruiser was still standing, and continued to beat on the mob till it died. He had about 2% health left. Then he opened the mob's chest.... and died because of the trap, haha.

From reading the opinions of the ex-Sigil employee, I am not sure I would want him back...  Maybe someone fresh with an open mind is what all classes need right now.

As far as I know, Taliskar and Tagad are still on, even though they were the driving force behind what totally became the train wreck.  I just posted about that here
http://www.vanguardmonks.com/option,com_smf/Itemid,27/topic,763.msg5477/topicseen,1/#new

  Nino refers to them in his post at the end.  More about that in the FOH thread that is in the above thread.