That's fine.
However, I still don't think there has been any proof that it is flawed, either.
If you literally just go with a one to one swap, the archetype makes perfect sense. Everything works just fine if you put Animal Companion in at level 4, exactly where Hunter's Bond was... and Improved Empathic Link in at level 6, exactly where the 6th level combat style feat was... the Effective Druid Level lines up perfectly... you don't have you hurt yourself thinking where to put anything... take away Hunter's Bond, gee, where do I put Animal Companion... maybe in the now-empty spot exactly where Hunter's Bond was? Maybe?
Why do I have to explain this? Why would anyone assume anything else?
Where do Ranger's get their Animal Companion? Level 4, through Hunter's Bond (if they choose)... what does the archetype replace? Hunter's Bond. What does it replace it with? Not just a Ranger's choices of Animal Companion, but literally any Animal Companion... and not just one Animal Companion, but literally as many as the Ranger has an Effective Druid Level to split up between! Whoa, cool.
When does the Ranger have a positve Effective Druid Level? Level 4!!! Exactly where Hunter's Bond was... the exact same ability it replaced. We will call that blind luck.
What do Animal Comoanions get at first level? Share Spells. And when does a Ranger get spells to share? Level 4... exactly where Hunter's Bond used to be. Still just blind luck, or was this possibly designed?
Flawed archetype...