Should WHM get a personal damage buff?

[EaMett]

The WHM identity issue lies in the fact that it conflicts directly with the game design. They give the WHM the biggest HPS weiner and then design encounters that can be done with the lowest HPS healer around. It's like bringing a bulldozer to destroy a sand castle.
The result is that the only time a WHM gets to express it's identity is when people screw up (progression).

This doesn't mean that WHM isn't balanced or that it needs some sort of buff. It just means SE views WHM as a beginner healer with an easy to use skill set and a lot of HPS padding to help beginners and not so skilled healers tackle all the content.
It just turns out that this sucks for the WHMs that don't identify with that demographic. (not to mention WHM's absence from the meta)

[Seraphor]

The WHM identity issue lies in the fact that it conflicts directly with the game design. They give the WHM the biggest HPS weiner and then design encounters that can be done with the lowest HPS healer around. It's like bringing a bulldozer to destroy a sand castle.
The result is that the only time a WHM gets to express it's identity is when people screw up (progression).

This doesn't mean that WHM isn't balanced or that it needs some sort of buff. It just means SE views WHM as a beginner healer with an easy to use skill set and a lot of HPS padding to help beginners and not so skilled healers tackle all the content.
It just turns out that this sucks for the WHMs that don't identify with that demographic. (not to mention WHM's absence from the meta)

This would be solved with my proposed change/reintroduction of Protect and Shell as WHM exclusives.

Protect
Becomes a WHM exclusive spell again.
Instant cast AoE 10% Physical Damage reduction on a 5m duration and 10s cooldown. Overrides Shell.

Shell
Becomes a WHM exclusive spell again.
Instant cast AoE 10% Magical Damage reduction on a 5m duration and 10s cooldown. Overrides Protect.

This gives WHM an oGCD to weave between heals, and a unique ‘damage type dancing’ mechanic, whereby you can anticipate the damage type you’ll most likely need to block and use the mitigation spell suitable for it. Could replace Fluid Aura and Repose.
How to balance the lack of Protect as a role skill? Increase SCH and AST’s basic mitigation spells by 5-10% depending on how accessible they are.
Balanced against SCH/AST mitigation? Well it’s less potent (only 10%) and only protects against one type of damage at a time. I don’t see how it’s encroaching on either of their territories. Both SCH and AST can already do both HoT and Mitigation, and AST isn’t solely limited to its Sects, it has Bole and Collective Unconscious (which does both). Besides, Nocturnal is almost always for effective than Diurnal. I only ever use Diurnal when I’m paired with a SCH in a dungeon/raid.