Originally Posted by
Deceptus
As usual, Emphasis mine
I mean this as respectfully as possible but SCH has 2 shields (Adlo, Succor, 3 if you're counting Seraph) and 2 mitigation (SS and Expedient).
While sage has 4 shields (Adlo / succor equivalents, Haima, Panhaima) and 3 mitigation (Durochloe, Taurochloe, Holos).
Hardly "out the wazzoo" for the SCH.
That's not to say SCH isn't strong because Recitation exists in a category of it's own, Fey union exists (which IMHO is just Kardia / Soteria with extra steps while losing other fairy utility) and they have Protraction (Krasis is the equivalent without the 10% HP bump)
Shield based healers are usually better in early content where survival is top priority but once you get it on farm where efficiency is a bit more of a priority and you can survive mechanics w/o the extra affective HP of shields then Regen healers shine.
The other issue from a design perspective is that "Shield" healer and "Regen" healer in FFXIV is pretty much an illusion as WHM's and ASTs have substantial shields and SGE/SCH have substantial regens.
But that's a completely different topic.