should I just delete my spine/regen scrapper?

... maybe you should try a blaster before you say that.

I can see a bit of merit in that statement. My Spines/Fire (any spines really) is easily the most damaging character I have, and with the Fire EPP I've replaced lunges use with fireblast, and fireball is part of the chain after (Aim+BU or in this case FE+BU). What that means is that the ONLY melee attack I use is ripper, (which is considered another PBAoE not a melee actually.) This just adds to the illusion that I'm playing a blaster with a defense set.

However, that character is extremely survivable thanks to about 17% IO defense, the ONE self heal and the fact that everything dies so fast. and that's fire, regen in my experience is more defensively powerful easily. So it shouldn't feel like a so-so blaster if you're doing it right, it should feel like an awesome blaster with mez protection there's a world of difference there.

So, on your regen, some suggestions people miss.

Obviously, if you don't know everything there is to know about regeneration, totalHP:regen relationship, your own recharge, and your enemies attacks, you'll die more than you need. This is supposed to be your schtick.

Use MoG, use it well and often. You can take alpha's better than any other scrapper powerset when it's up, and have the best defensive emergency tier 9 there is. (granted there's no psion). This is one of many things that separates you from blasters.

Slot a single slow in quills, or if you're using sets, than get the spiritual Alpha (Recharge/Healing/Slow... can it get more perfect?) This will keep enemies whose recharge you've hurt near you, attempting and failing to run away while their attacks recharge.

Use Ripper for the KD, Throw spines is awesome, and remember impale is an immob when you need it.

You can do decently in PvP, not many can claim that. PvP IO's drop more easily than you'd imagine if you spend time killing people.