To the OP's real question:
I think you need to make two decisions to decide on the four classes in question:
1. How much do you want to group vs. solo?
2. How fiddly vs relaxed do you want to play?
Cleric: This is a more relaxed play style. While they can solo a bit, its typically not very efficient time/exp wise. Clerics are at home in a group. Need to be on the ball for heals (especially if you have aggro friendly casters in your group) but there isnt a lot of button mashing. Complete heal makes them very powerful healers.
Shaman: This is a really interesting class as they are extremely dymamic and versatile. Shamen have the best melee buffs, melee haste, sow, hp buffs, the best mob slows, regen, mob debuffs, a semi crappy little dogdog pet and the ability to convert hp to mana. Can solo semi decently but are best in a group where they are generally well loved, especially by melees (for the buffs). Its more of a fiddly class with a lot of button mashing if played correctly. Goes well with your love of iksars since iksars regen hp.
Rogue: Probably the most simple of all the melee classes. Stand behind mob, autoattack and backstab. Good dps, nearly no soloing ability, not a lot of button mashing despite being a melee. Almost no ability to solo, much like most melee classes.
Bard: Bards have a tremendous amount of utility. This class is VERY fiddly to play. If done properly you will be weaving four songs at once which requires literally constant button mashing. If you have no fear of carpal tunnel and are willing to really work at it you can be a great bard. Swarm kiting makes them powerful soloers once you get it down, but bards are also welcome in groups due to their utility buffs.
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