Paladins are excellent group tanks and get some pretty decent support spells. They actually heal almost as well as a druid, and their buffs are alright for a hybrid class. They don't get a very wide variety of spells, but the ones they do are generally stronger than what the other hybrids get. Not great soloing capacity, but they can do it if they have to, better than warriors/rogues/clerics at least.
Shadowknights are slightly more convenient group tanks than paladins because they can hold aggro with a 10-mana spell. Paladin stuns cost too much for them to never have downtime while a shadowknight can keep going forever if he doesn't have to cast anything but Disease Cloud. They're also underrated soloers and can do really well up until like 40, and tolerably afterwards. They have more interesting spells than paladins, a wider range of utility, and can serve as pullers on raids due to being sturdy and having Feign Death. Shadowknights also have access to the fat races that have much better stats for a tank and the ability to bash with a two-hander.
I'd say the shadowknight class is a little "better" while paladin is a little easier to play and has support spells that aren't completely useless in a group. They're especially good in an emergency, having Lay on Hands, decent heals, and the ability to rez if nobody else can. If the group is kinda weak and struggling, a paladin will be more appreciated. For more well-rounded play and the option of soloing adequately, shadowknight holds the edge. They also have much better tradeable gear in Kunark, which is why they've become one of the most popular alt classes.
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