I haven’t played GNB at all, and my paladin is only 46 so uh… this may not be helpful But Sheltron doesn’t block everything, from what I remember when I read up on it, it’s 15-25% iirc, and then on top of that some things are just not mitigated by it at all. So that may explain why you concluded it must be bugged. I could imagine you might be pulling with the idea that overall you’ll have stronger mitigation than you factually do, pull big and kill yourself that way. As I am completely clueless as to how GNB plays, I can’t estimate at all whether it is just stronger at that level.

That said, to me paladin feels decidedly chunky with reprisal, rampart and sentinel + sheltron, and my chocobo has had no issues with fates and such. But from what I remember early HW content hits quite a bit harder than late ARR content, maybe that’s causing it? I won’t even comment on the squadron healer, it definitely feels like living on the edge at times! If GNB is more self sufficient at those levels, I would understand your differing experiences on the two tanks. Paladin does need a heal now and then. If you think you’ve got the hang of the class, tbh I’d just give it a go in DF because I’m guessing with a player healer it may feel more like it should.