Are people finally starting to realize Bard is a good champion?

I've been seeing consecutive Bard Supports in my Solo Q draft games. People are finally starting to make use of his godly stun.

I asked a team mate this exact question and he stated that his recent buffs certainly helped.

I said his buffs only upped his damage. To which he replied "poke is valuable"

Son, you don't play bard for his poke, and you don't build him for damage. He's had the power to be a great support this entire time. People have just been playing him wrong until now.

People also said Kalista was a garbage champion, and Gnar, and Azir and the new Sion. But I don't think it was just buffs that determined their rise in strength.

Learning their correct builds and their mechanics is what eventually will make them strong.

I guarantee you Ekko will come out on release and people will complain how weak he is, whilst Bard will become the new FotM because a new exploit or trick was discovered in his kit.