Best in Slot for SMN after 2.1?

[xxalucard]

how is it possible for the 17 determination from AF2 pants to outweigh the 34 crit from Allagan? Can someone explain how allagan is not BiS?

It isn't, but a lot of people jump on bandwagons & theorycraft math without regard to rotation / class / purpose.

IN reality if you get even 1 more crit from the extra crit rate it would be more DPS than the 17 det. Det is not a guaranteed increase in damage, it's a slight raise to the lower/higher damage window ranges. The actual damage can fall into the same range as someone with less det (or even hit lower than someone with less det) many times throughout a fight.

Only the lowest possible damage hit from both windows would guarantee that more DET is a slight increase in damage, and the same is true for the highest possible hit (within a few damage).

Since both stats are essentially "chance" increases, I rather bet on crit than Det. Though some of the best crit pieces come with det anyway.

[EasymodeX]

IN reality if you get even 1 more crit from the extra crit rate it would be more DPS than the 17 det. Det is not a guaranteed increase in damage, it's a slight raise to the lower/higher damage window ranges. The actual damage can fall into the same range as someone with less det (or even hit lower than someone with less det) many times throughout a fight.

I like how you say that "gambling" on a static increase in damage is risky, but gambling on a 2.3% increased chance to increase damage by less than the alternative is "reliable".