I actually prefer choke + burn + other dot spells than fire II/blizzard II.
If we talk about elements vs holy+umbral we can agree easily, if we talk about how a player prefer to play his own char... hmmm.
@Carpe. Exactly, it's a state of mind. this is the good thing of the system.
I'm not forced to create another character, I'm not forced to level up in a specific role.
If I'm playing an healing class, for example, I'm forced to level with a group.
Better, I'm forced to level with a group where there are DPS.
More, I'm forced to level in a group, with a tank and with DPS.
Actually if I'm playing as... pugilist ok? I can accept a casual party from an unknown, without worring about his class.
Can he heal? Nice! I will have less trouble (I hope XD).
He cannot heal? Nevermind, I can heal myself in some way.
If I had a 50% reduced heal from cure, probably I was not able to heal myself, so I was forced to search a proper class and refuse the party.
I prefer this uniqueness comes from stats, equip, personal choices, experience, balancing with others.
However, we cannot do everything: we have 2 important things to consider.
1. skill you can equip
2. time of a rotation. We can equip ...5 different dps skills, but we have to consider TP, cast time, cooldown, in the end, I use only 2 or 3.
I don't like cages. I have played different games, but generally I play hybrids, so I can fill a different role whenever is necessary.