shields

[Strelnikov]

Given the choice, I'd take a more-reliable low decrease in damage over a less-reliable high decrease in damage.
It makes the damage you take over time more consistent, which decreases the likelihood you'll die to unlucky spikes and lets your healers more easily gauge how much support they need to give you.
The flip side is that with high block strength but low rate, you'd have a chance to be lucky and block a VERY BIG hit that'd otherwise kill you.

So for me it'd be rate. But on most high-endgame equipment the two stats tend to be identical.

Thanks!! Best explanation I have heard so far