So it's decided then, Barbarian is actually the min-max choice due to polar bear skin helms. Glad we were able to come to agreement on that! (Kidding obviously)
So, on a semi-related tangent, is
Arctic Wyvern Skullcap the BiS polar bear skin helm for casual shamaning? Assuming I did my fashion search correctly (Fashion: Leather, Shaman Equipment, Head), this might be the item to eventually aim for. Doesn't really matter as I'm sure this leather helm will be perfectly serviceable til 60, but I'm just curious. Velious seems to have largely abandoned the concept of helm graphics for some reason. I disapprove...