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The attack bonus from the big cat is wrong.
BAB +4, Str +7, size -1, armor -5 (if it's masterwork, -6 otherwise) = +5, not +10.
Otherwise, I think the new eidolons need some time to be worked out. As far as combat usefulness goes, I kinda prefer having something that can go through damage reduction adamatine without having to do max rolls.
So I'm going with an azata with an adamatine nodachi or bec de corbin. Maybe even sacrifice a feat for an adamantine fauchard.
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So, lets see:
Big cat 7
Ability Scores Str 24, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10
Elemental 7 Quadroped (Large, Claw, Claw)
Ability Scores Str 22, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 11
That looks pretty even to me.
Big Cat
Attack Bonus: 10 (-5 from armor)
AC 26?
Eidolon
Attack Bonus 11
AC 22 (Can't wear armor, but then, isn't taking the -5 to attacks either.)
Still pretty even.
Big Cat:
Special defenses: None.
Eidolon:
Resist Energy (10) vs one elemental type, and next level gets Fly, Burrow, or +20 speed...
Big Cat:
Damage 1d6+7 Bite, 1d4+? claws
Eidolon 1d8+6 Bite, 1d6+6 claws
Push
Honestly, I would probably go with claw+claw+pounce+rake for the eidolon, rather than large, personally, and next level have a flying pounce blender, but that is me.
Agreed about the eidolon getting more stuff at level 8, Flite. It's also true that the chosen levels are exactly the levels when the selected animal companions receive a big boost, one that they will never receive again for the rest of the game.
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I did the same comparisons you did, and found that low level is pretty equal between the AC and the natural attack Eidolon. At 4th level the combat pets take the lead, then at 7th level when the Eidolon has just about pulled even the AC takes the lead again. However Mark's right that at around level 11 the Eidolon becomes more powerful, and doesn't look back. The problem is that most other pet classes don't rely as much on the pet, and have much better class features, like 9th level spells, bonus feats, or in the case of the druid, wild shape and 9th level spells.
The only times I can see the Summoner being a superior choice at lower levels is with Weapon builds, or when the default form evolutions come up a lot in the campaign. Like immunity to disease/death effects could be really handy in a certain campiagns. However stuff like Resist 10 Sonic is probably next to useless in the majority of campaigns. I can't recall ever taking Sonic damage in either PFS or in home games. And even when it might come up, Resist Energy is a pretty low level spell that's much more versatile, has a long duration, and only real downside is that you have to plan your energy type out properly.
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Yeah, I would say that at level 8, the special abilitys put the eidolon ahead in efficacy.
At low level, most of the eidolons advantages are niche.
Things like:
AC is animal intelligence. That means that it cannot aid another unless it has a trick or is pushed. If the owner goes down, the animal keeps following the last command. The animal also cannot be ordered to stop attacking if the opponent surrenders, meaning if the opponent surrenders, and then your pet goes before you, you are just out of luck. If you get paralyzed or are just out of sight of your pet, it just keeps doing what you last told it.
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Yeah, I would say that at level 8, the special abilitys put the eidolon ahead in efficacy.
That's highly subjective to what the 8th level ability is. Lay on hands will probably boost the Eidolons combat efficacy significantly, Skilled (Diplomacy) and immunity to poison, or +1 evolution point, maybe not so much.
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My assumption was that someone who was combat optimizing is going to be picking his subtype for combat efficiency. :) (Unlike my protean, which is probably going to be more strange than effective. Medium serpentine, with constrict (evo) + final embrace(feat) at level 3... 2 grabs, 2 constricts per round, only works on medium creatures sadly, but should be fun if and when it ever works.)