Shaman are fine. We got a much needed boost in 3.2 with the changes to Improved Water Shield and the amount of mp5 on gear. The only times I have mana problems are either when I ankh/battle rez or when I forget to refresh water shield, and both situations warrant mana problems IMO - and that's after shedding much of the mp5 I had before the chain heal buff patch. If they should make any changes to mana, it should be to nerf everyone else. Nerfing Spirit didn't do much in the current situation of "spam big heals all the time so the tank doesn't die".

That said, mana regen is MUCH harder as a fresh 80 than a Shaman in ToC10/25 gear, but then again what class isn't that true for?

Truth be told, I found healing to be unbearable on my paladin once I hit 80.

Every few trash pulls I had to drink, even using divine plea on cooldown. And it just got worse on bosses. I couldn't even last half the fight before I had to mortal strike myself for mana. Stacking int gems for bigger plea ticks and a larger pool did nothing. I eventually gave up. And that was before illumination was nerfed from 60 to 30.

My shaman on the other hand has been an absolute joy. Upon hitting 80 and doing some toc 5, I could easily reach 400 mp5 in combat. Chain heal makes healing through aoe dps bearable, and the buff to healing cast times and crit you get afterwards is a godsend.

On top of that I can keep a decently geared tank topped off with earth shield and riptide alone for most 5 man runs, giving me plenty of time to focus on the group. Throw in cleansing totem so I dont have to waste a global for every poison and disease on the group, and Its an absolute joy to play.

You forgot to account for group heals, which is one thing shamans are good at. I know this because it's a holy paladins biggest weakness.