If it doesn't increase DPS or if it doesn't heal as well as Helios then it's not worth channeling.
Looking at it stand alone and not 'The bandaid that makes ast good' all it really needs is range. The free pricetag means a lot and it's generally strong enough to get the job done. It's just how often do you have everyone squeezed in that tiny radius? It'd be really good if it could just hit everyone regularly.

Though I would miss the totally sweet looking bubble.