Class strategies

I've read a lot of strategies for different classes on what kind of attack patterns to use in different situations, from instances to PVP to plain old PVE. At this point it seems to be much simpler than what strategies to use for each class, more like what strategies to use for each role. While each DPS class has different skill sets to use, they are usually similar in what sorts of skills work best, and a lot of the time they will have skills that serve the same function but are just called something different.

Lets take a hunter and a rogue for example. Both are pure DPS classes, but very different in playstyle as the hunter stays at range and the rogue gets up close and personal. Now the rogue has a finishing move called slice and dice, increasing his attack speed for a period of time, and what does the hunter have? Not exactly the same, but there is a talent called improved aspect of the hawk, giving you a chance on hit to increase attack speed for a period of time while aspect of the hawk is active. Why are these skills important? Because they are great skills in instances and raids. An increase in attack speed is an increase of the same amount in DPS, meaning for that 10 or 15 seconds you're doing more damage and therefore bringing down the mob faster, but as far as when these skills should be utilized it is the same for both classes. They are best in instances because those fights take long enough that you can get the full benefit from them, whereas in PVE and PVP you want to do as much damage as possible over a short period of time, in which case you use your burst damage skills, of which both classes also have.

So while I can understand trying to find the rotation of skills to use that will maximize your potential, if you are just looking for which skills that you should be using in the first place you don't have to get so class specific, just look at what you have at your disposal. Obviously a tank will have ways to bump up their threat, and these should be used only when they need to be, as they usually just waste rage or mana that you could be using on other skills if you overuse them. A warrior should use taunt when he loses aggro, not to keep aggro as the skill does nothing when you are already the focus of the mob, same with a bear druid using growl. Likewise with DPS classes there are times to use a DOT and times to use burst damage. Like rogues should be using rupture instead of eviscerate in an instance, but the opposite is true of PVE where the fights don't last long enough for rupture to do as much damage as it can. Healers are very situational, but you basically want to get the most healing done for the least mana cost, which usually means the big healing spells that take a long time to cast. Sure in emergency situations a fast healing spell can be used, but the big heals get you more bang for your buck, and guess what, all the healers have at least one of each of these types of spells.

So for anyone that thinks they are clueless about what skills to use in different situations, don't waste your time going through endless strategies and builds trying to find the best one, because chances are there will end up being one better. Not saying you shouldn't check out some strategies to get an idea, but don't be lead around blindly by them. I think macros are great, but if you just copy someone else's spell rotation macro to use you aren't really learning anything, and when put in a situation where that macro doesn't work you don't want to be caught looking like a deer in the headlights. Figure out what sorts of skills tend to be the best and go from there. There really is no right answer, but there are wrong ones, and those are more important to know. Same goes for talent trees, you can use others as references, but you should be the one who ultimately decides which talents to put your points into. Don't be a tool.