You act like gut is your only aoe/dot ability. I wouldn't dream of going for gut when I could take increased survivability. I'd sooner live an extra 15 seconds and stop THOSE cap attempts as opposed to gutting someone and dying, allowing their teammates to cap. Survivability > Gut anyday.

Simply put, you won't be a jack of all trades. You will NEVER be able to tank at 50, let alone 30s and 40s with that spec. You will also do mediocre damage. These trees are designed to be mostly invested in, and any hope of being a "jack of all trades" will be met with resistance by groups who will not invite you because your "jack of all trades" spec will not fit ANY role that they couldn't fill more effectively with a fully specced character.

Is it just me or does everyone find the people complaining about people being nice annoying? Seriously, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Thanks Bioware, I look forward to getting in tomorrow and playing my Vanguard!

What you experienced isn't normal. NORMALLY you would be in the whole warzone, and as such there is a set amount of experience you gain NOT based on your time in the battleground, but rather a set amount you get for winning and losing. Get in a full length warzone and you will earn your experience, get in one at the end and you just get free xp...Why are you complaining?

Of course he's right, and there is also the sage damage block spell which they can use on allies (Think power word shield). This is what you will think of when you think of shield in pvp because, as heezdedjim stated, normal shield is just another mechanic akin to dodge, albeit a mechanic we rely on heavily.