Throwing the tome: 4.2 Summoner Feedback

[Shurrikhan]

But if I were to find additional examples, I'd point out the fact that Sheltron completely lacks a Off-Tank counterpart for its specific utility, being a wasted slot when the Paladin is chosen as an off tank (which is after a tank swap or if DRK is in the party). Granted, Unchained now has that particular issue, but its lack of counterpart makes sense considering it's supposed to be a buff to remove the tank-stance damage nerf. Considering Sheltron is designed to help the PLD's MP, it's basically a wasted button in a fight that doesn't have tank swaps and you're with a DRK.

It's this (underlined) part that gets me.

Were Shelltron and Intervention equally meant just for defense, then it would be a mere matter of bloat (as compared to combining them back into Aegis Boon or the like to reduce personal damage taken by 30% or someone else's damage taken by x% or up to y eHP cap). But, since Intervention cannot return mana, PLD's toolkit is balanced upon MT-specific utility atop Shield Swipe (which could have similarly been worked into OT by simply causing Intervention to proc Shield Swipe upon damage absorption) that become mere burden in the OT position. Unchained is the only other example of this, and as it is infrequent and far more generally useful, scarcely as awkward.

Or do I need to bring in a Monk and have them explain Greased Lightning and Riddle of Fire?

Those aren't necessarily contradictory, though, especially seeing as RoF re-allows double-weaving, which tends to be necessary for one's openers and allows for greater oGCD damage density... which is precisely what Damage bonuses increase that Attack Speed bonuses cannot. It may feel like shit until a 2.22 base pre-GL GCD or so, but it does at least meet particular needs and makes strengths out of its weaknesses.

Riddle of Earth and its requirement to actually take damage rather than merely be attacked, however (frequently having to drop Shake it Off to ensure the damage doesn't zero out)...
...Well, I guess even that's not contradictory so much as just unnecessarily stupid. Shelltron can still block and contribute toward a hit that would be fully absorbed by shields either way, so why should shields cost Monk its Greased Lightning when damage is overly mitigated? (Especially given that the effect is irremovably attached to a mitigation effect?!) Now that's contradiction.