The Lync 2013 Basic client just got epic with the October 2014 update it can do gallery view and recording. These where major features for not running the Basic client in production.

Gallery view and recording

If you are using advanced Enterprise Voice features like Response Groups, Manage Delegates, Call Pickup or Call Park then you need the full rich client that is part of Office 2013 Pro plus.

If you deploy Lync from Lync Online from the Business SKU you wont get the Lync client because it includes Office 2013 Business.
Basic is now feature rich enough to be a valid client for those types of users, since Lync Online does not have Enterprise Voice features.
This also applies to those customers that have an Open License of the Office suite and needs to roll out Lync
- You can not combine Lync click to run provided by Office 365 with locally installed office from media
This means you can easily combine Office 2010, if you for some reason need it, with a Lync 2013 client without needing the Office 2013 License

Lync 2013 Basic features

Taking a closer look at the Client comparison tables for Lync 2013 clients is seems like it is quite outdated.

Notable features the Lync Basic client now can do is

Click to call (not new)
Transfer Calls (not new)
Manage call forwarding
Client-side recording of audio, video, application sharing, desktop sharing, and uploaded content
- In conferences, tested ok
- Could not verify in peer to peer call
Select preferred recording resolution
Users can use the gallery view to see all users’ video instead of only the active speaker’s in a video conversation that has more than two people.
Users can switch mode between gallery and speaker.