Looking at the early beta stuff...

The video of which class can kill a level 86/87 character, who had BiS and was Plate for maximum armor mitigation...
The Ret Paladin had the highest DPS (quickest kill), out of everybody.

Later on in the beta, they nerf the damage a bit, because it was over the top.

Now maybe it's not enough.
Chances are, it will be adjusted to be in line with other melee.




From a boxing point of view, we're concerned with an easy to macro rotation.
With decent sustained damage, for PvE.
Or with strong burst damage, for PvP... possibly with good AoE/Cleave potential, as another consideration.

Ret Pallies have other advantages...
Assuming the DPS is close enough in line to other melee options...
A Ret wears Plate, can bubble, has very easy to macro and quite effective cooldowns such as Guardian King/Avenging Wrath/Aura Mastery/Divine Protection/Etc..
They're going to have far higher survival, than say Enhance Shamans (who might put out more DPS)...

Word of Glory, without a cooldown, looks to be very nice healing.
Sacred Shield is more healing, and passively.

Pursuit of Justice, will be faster movement than most other classes.
You can self Cleanse away all Poison/Diseases (Crippling Poison) in one go.
Self Emancipate, to remove a movement impairing effect.
Hand of Freedom, for when you need mobility.

They can Rebuke, the same as DK's can Mind Freeze.
Also off of the GCD, for very strong anti-caster melee power.




Sure, if the damage and lack of burst remain to MoP.
A lot of these won't make a difference for the class/spec.

But if the damage is close enough to other options...
They have a lot of survival, mobility, healing, mitigation, cooldown power... in addition to their damage.