Didn't read all the responses, but I can tell you that I feel combat is too fast. I felt that it was too slow when I played in the first few beta tests, but now that I've experienced more of it, it's actually not slow at all. I can understand the need to feel those amazing numbers flowing one after the other nonstop, but that's not the point of this combat system. It's to choose your skill wisely, and allows for greater strategy (again, something I didn't see or really understand when I first tried out the game). If I use a damage skill on my paladin as the boss is readying up a large aoe attack, I likely won't be able to get off my stun, so I either have to run out of it or take the hit.

It's really a hit or miss system, players will either love or loathe it.