Best guide ever, buddy. And I'm not just saying that because your SD/WM Tank started after mine, surpassed mine, and reached 50 in what seemed like a matter of a few sessions. Brilliant! Great read.
I heartily echo what you wrote about the better use of Shield Charge, skipping Build Up, and salivating over Crowd Control. I personally, as you know, took Air Superiority over Combat Jumping in the beginning to have an extra attack, and much as you'd advised, it rapidly became first pick on my list to dump in a RESPEC. Wasn't worth the extra attack after only a scant few levels.
I did take Grant Cover and have to loudly tout its use on teams that you know verses PUGs. Despite the only slightly better chance that a familiar team will recognize and appreciate the boost given them, Grant Cover is sort of an inter-relational survivability boost. They do better, survive longer, and dole out plenty of booty stomping math that in turn keeps your tank's survivability up in the stratosphere. I'm no guru like you, but that choice, among others, has made for the first melee intensive character in any MMO that I enjoy playing week to week.
Thank you.
