My three stages to Paladin tanking

[Hitokirinomad]

This may come across as rude and/or caustic. Not my actual intent, I just don't want people trying to follow all of this advice just because your post is long. Ciana linked a very comprehensive guide that uses math and testing. Go use that.

Yea this is more focused on new people to get into tanking with a enough info about their skills and usage area. Flash does get a boost with Shield Oath yes, but at the same every class gets more damage and healing enmity so its back to square once again... so its still a little useless for other then initial enmity gain as at all levels.

This one bit of misinformation here made me go back and really read what you put down. Some of it is good, a lot of it is suboptimal. Flash with shield oath is more than just 'initial threat grab'. At low levels, PLD who continually lose aggro in my experience have flashed less than 3 times per multi mob pull. At higher levels...what exactly do you think those tanks in WP speed runs are using to hold aggro on 12 mobs? Or what if (while leveling), you run across a THM or CNJ who sleeps the other mobs?

For your main post, you only list 3 cross class skills, one of which you can't use in combat, and don't need outside of combat. You forgot Bloodbath and Protect, or even cure if you are unwilling/able to take your CNJ to 34 for SS (somewhat likely for a truly new to the game tank).

Now many might wonder and argue why i use only savage blade and not the full combo on the first target...
First its a slow process to use the whole combo.
Second its does NOT give more enmity. The additional effect is only 200 potency from 100. Now you do get more enmity with more damage. But as you use fast blade first its slower then just using Savage Blade alone. As your job is NOT to do the most damage but hold every mob with Enmity and not let them loose on your healers as they keep you alive

This is confusing, and also incorrect. You will generate more enmity in 2 swings with Fast > Savage than you would with Savage > Fast, and it's the *same amount of time spent due to the GCD*. Also, post-Halone, you generate an insane amount more emnity doing Fast > Savage > Halone than Savage > Fast > Savage, and you will most likely immediately lose threat if you have DPS expecting a quicker ramp up.

As for best in slot gear and the likes i can really tell because its up each and everyone to decide that. Item Level means much yes but individual skill and knowledge is not count in that so be sure not to judge to quickly.

The JOB story armor coupled with Dark-light rings and bracelets is more then enough for most content. Fancy armor does not make you better just better equipped.

Also, no. Not even the slightest. Unless by "most content" you mean nothing past AK, WP, and Ifrit HM. You suggest that tanks need to have the best gear available for the content, then let them know it's okay to stay in AF armor. It's really not. It won't make you utilize your skills better, but it does help with the whole 'staying alive and keeping threat' portion of the tanking. You're not a bad tank just because you are in AF, just go ahead and get better as quickly as possible.