D&D 3E/3.5 - 3.5 Druids - what to do about them?

what to do about it. well the core 3.0 druid wasn't that popular. but from core 3.0 to core 3.5:

- better skill list
- druid polymorphing is better - the shorter duration of the 4th level wizard spell in 3.5 may compensate for the other changes - e.g. CON changing hit points - but druids still get to stay in their polymorphed forms for 1 hour per level
- the natural spell feat
- wild armour

what to change to make 3.5 druids balanced with the rest of the 3.5 core material?

Option 1: get rid of the wild armour property

Argument: allows a druid in animal form to get a ridiculous AC

Option 2: getting rid of the natural spell feat

Argument: in a polymorphed form a druid is maybe comparable to a fighter in melee - better raw damage but fewer feats/combat options. It's really the ability to switch between spells and combat that natural spell provides, or to combine them with a touch attack spell that's too much

Option 3: get rid of the animal companion once a druid can wild shape.

Argument: animal companions slow the game down with their extra actions. getting rid of them speeds up the game and powers down the druid. since a druid can change into the same form as most of his possible animal companions, the party still has access to the same range of special abilities.

Option 4: town down polymorph e.g. changing CON doesn't boost hit points, limit the gaining of extraordinary abilities such as pounce, maybe limit the increase in physical stats as a function of the druid's level, and treat them as enhancement bonuses to limit staking

my preference: Options 1 plus 3 plus 4 (I like the flavour of Natural spell) but interested in the experiences of those who have seen a mid to high level druid in action especially in a Core 3.5 game.

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