@Vlatch:

I'll address both your points:

a. But they changed their mind so it is a non-issue. The down ranking change might lead to more reliance on expensive pot chugging.

b. Changing from the current +healing to spell power has no effect on our desire to stack it. The +healing number will be lower but it's effect will be higher to compensate. No change on this front. A non-issue.

In regards to your comments about adapt or die... Obviously. I even stated the options we have to compensate for this. I then stated that for me personally healing with the new mechanics will be less fun. I currently love the way shaman healing is. Incoming damage feels like a puzzle I have to solve with various size heals / global cooldowns. Without down ranking, the number of pieces I get to choose from becomes more limited, and for me less fun (I love the stress and complexity of managing my mana pool).

Hope for healers like me isn't lost yet. I just saw a blue post about Blizzard's intention to introduce lower mana cost lesser heals if needed to combat the removal of lesser ranks. As long as I can have a lesser chain heal, I'll have enough puzzle pieces to enjoy healing. With all the buffs to lesser healing wave/healing wave we shamans seem to have more reason to use them now (and hence even more puzzle pieces to choose from).