As a hardcore player i vote for macros .. Rift like ingame macroes not as adds or mods. With no queue of abilities. makes a things a bit easier. Though after playing Stormcaller in Rift with 23 actions variable DPS rotation i fell like i don't need macros anymore ^__^

The main reason for players with kinetic build is : - There a dime dozen of pure DPSers, and only few tanks. Tanks have more chances to get a spot in the group. And as a shadow tank you can always pretend that you are DPS

Shadow tanks have : 1) As shadow tank guides suggests we have highest DPS amon tanks 2) Some kind of self healing via Harnessed Shadows wich is part of our DPS rotation (Double, Strike (pray for Accelerated particles), Project (pray for Upheaval)...rinse and repeat until 3 stacks of Harnesses Shadows - > Telekenetic Throw). 3) We have Stealth wich is totaly rules! So we can choose our condition to start fight, we can easily avoid unwanted fights, and in really "oh sith!" situations we can "Force cloak" ourself - it's owr way out of combat situations we can't win 4) Mind Maze - is a cheap way to get -1 mob to tank in each pack.

Maybe Bioware released only easy T1 raids for the start and there are a lot of more raids coming like more difficult t1 and t2 and , eventually t3.