I've been reading a LOT of threads since getting CoH and this kind of summerizes them and spells things out very clearly, so hats off to you for delivering on the topic title.
The only thing I have to kind of disagree about is endurance drain being worthless. Your example friend didn't take Short Circuit, our primary end drain skill. It has an inherent +20% acc according to the hero planner, and unslotted will drain a little under 1/2 enemy endurance and prevent regen. I've read from other topics as well that Super Speed + Stealth is an awesome combination. Use that, speed into a group and open with Thunderclap. Follow up with Short Circuit. Run back and use Thunderous Blast, everything has 0 endurance that is still standing. Endurance Drain has the potential to be the best defense, the only problem is that you need to get them to 0 and keep them at 0 or it really is as worthless as you describe it. As you said, Electric alone only has one hold. Shocking Grasp is the answer to having 2 holds (too bad we get it so late). You yourself described how using melee attacks isn't a big problem if you do it properly, and I agree totally. It will be fun whenever I get to 38 and start Tesla Grasping bosses that live through Thunderous Blast, which I hope will remain viable when they up the cap to 50. Anyways, can't wait for your friend to respec himself with Short Circuit, I think you'll re-evaluate your position. Electric is definately a late bloomer though because of all the other skills you need besides SC to be effective at reducing all the mobs to 0 QUICKLY, appearently. Your friend didn't take Power Sink either? Thats the other BIG endurance drain skill supposedly. What this shows me is that 1/3 of Electric / Electric's big endurance draining capability does not impress you. Just like Ice has very specific Hold skills, Electric has some specific skills that drain very large amounts of endurance, and you shouldn't discount the effect based on 1/3 of them (TB alone). Of those 3 you only need 2 to render an entire group unable to do more than Brawl you, and that beats Holding 2 Lts or a Boss if you want to compare secondaries effects directly. Run in and use Power Sink or Short Circuit again (it has a pretty short recharge with Hasten) when they start regen'ing and they are back to nothing and no regen.
I will not argue with you though about Elec being lacking for a power gamer. Late blooming means slow leveling early on, and even the combo I described above is probably slower xp than what you describe doing.
