Mouse and keyboard or controller and which kind of skill set up/bar etc?

[kaynide]

2. How do you quickly avoid AOEs without the use of Q / E as side-strafing?

I learned this the hard way at Brayflox (tanking the dragon), where my keys only allowed attacking OR moving.. after that, I learned that binding keys to the numpad allows my left hand to stay in WADS and the right hand on numpad to use abilities. With that setup I make it so I never “lock” on mobs, so I can just run out whatever direction.

[Daniolaut]

Controller works much better than it should, its pretty great actually. You just have to turn on extended hotbars, its basically mandatory.

Healing takes some gettimg used to but is perfectly feasible

Expanded hotbar is not mandatory at all.

I've been playing for years, and never needed it, I also clear all savage and extremes no problem.

This goes for healing, DPS or tanking.

Gamepads are designed for gaming, and this is in fact a game, its as viable if not better than keyboard and mouse. You just have to find what you're comfortable with and become efficient.