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So the idea here is kind of Jekyll/Hyde, or Hulk, or something else where instead of summoning a creature seperate from you, you are unleashing something that is a part of you, causing a fundamental transformation in the process. You can spend 1 focus point to meld into the eidolon as a single action.
You choose your Eidolon like normal, but DO NOT choose the mutation feat at first level. instead you gain the Meld into Eidolon feat, and this is the only way you can manifest your Eidolon. and you can only have your eidolon manifested for 1 minute at a time
At second level you MUST take this class archetype dedication. Part of the dedication will be choosing a second archetype dedication. The benefits of this second archetype are only available WHEN YOU ARE MELDED INTO YOUR EIDOLON. When taking a class feat/or Class archetype feat, you may take a feat from this extra archetype instead.
I think there's a real niche out there for a dual-form class. I don't know if the Summoner is the best base chassis for it, but there are so many character concepts out there that would work really well with a simple core framework of a "civilian" form and a special form, including:
Meld Into Eidolon I think needs a few changes to be truly worth using in my opinion (still waiting for that Synthesist class archetype), but with all of these characters I don't think the base class is necessarily a spellcaster either: in most cases, the "civilian" identity is basically just a regular person who's probably a bit savvier than most due to their unusual life, and any spellcasting might come from the special form, who might also be a damage-heavy martial combatant or sometimes a hybrid of the two.
For this reason, I think there's likely a benefit here to creating a brand-new class chassis: in my opinion, the base class ought to be a skill monkey with a choice of Int or Cha as a key attribute and essentially no combat capabilities (no armor proficiencies, simple weapon proficiency, essentially the base proficiencies of a Wizard), but then should have a transformation that lets them use an entirely different stat block for combat with its own key attribute, set of proficiencies, and class features, like Meld into Eidolon but with a different selection of creatures. Effectively, you'd be switching from one (fairly weak) class to another class entirely with a narrower, yet still powerful set of features.
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The reason I like using the Summmoner as the base class is, yes you get a little spell casting as your base class, BUT what you transform into will be based entirely on what you choose. you can choose a fey Eidolon and make it so your Other form is even more magical than you are.
Or you can be the construct transformation, which like you said, focuses on being the suit of armor.
I wanted to do a transformation class like that of the Hulk which did NOT focus on maintaining a secret identity. The Summoner is clearly tied to the Eidolon to anyone who sees them both, and thus the Summoner and the Other are clearly the same being.
The idea of giving them an extra second Archetype is from an Idea I originally had when learning about the Summoner. Have one of the Phantom eidolons, but then take the wrestler archetype, and have it be the Eidolon that does it all... but then I was told you can't do that.
I feel your identity being secret is something that could be more of a feat in this kind of framework, even a subclass-specific ability, than a basic necessity. I do agree it'd be neat to be able to use feats while melded into your eidolon, but I feel that may need a bit of additional rewiring, as eidolons are meant to work differently in many respects from the Summoner's main body.
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I never really understood why that was a thing. I get it is a thing, and that it was done for balance reasons, but I don't understand them. I figured, the removal of yourself as a partial caster would make up for this power differential of being able to use different archetype abilities while merged with the Eidolon.