Soloability vs. desirability in a group is a big factor. A group only needs one tank and adding a second provides very little benefit unless that tank can contribute good damage (like Warriors and Monks can).
So if you're playing a Paladin and the group is full it'd be nice if you could solo a bit while you wait but Paladins are slow and boring solo. It's certainly possible but it gets difficult as you rise in levels since you're essentially allowing an unslowed mob to beat the crap out of you and then healing up afterwards. You never really take control of the fight with slows like a Shaman or charms like an Enchanter. You just go toe to toe or maybe do root jousting at most. You win by attrition and then slowly heal yourself back to full before starting again. Not as bad solo as say a Warrior or a Rogue but not even close to what a Necro, Chanter, Shaman, Druid, etc. can do.
This combination of very specific group role that is often filled and lack of enjoyable solo experience is what I think makes Paladin (and to a lesser extent Rangers and Shadowknights) very unpopular.
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