@Doomguide,
Thanks much for the reply! I'm still relatively low level (26), but so far I've been progressing along a very similar blueprint to what you laid out here. I a finding that while staff lacks the burst/build-up powers, and SR is a defense only set, staff mastery and quickness make a gnarly combo. While definitely not an instant gratification combo, it seems to flow very well, dispatching mobs very efficiently. And I definitely like SR so far.