This, exactly. The ratio of tank to total group size goes like this:

1:5
1:5
1:8.3 (assuming 3 tanks in your typical 25 man)

Its a similar problem in reverse for healers, 25 mans have proportionally more healers then 5 mans and many 10 mans (some use 3 healers which evens it out some).

The flip side to having a limited number of tanks in 25 mans is that the instances are a veritable loot pinata for tanks. With less competition to roll against, the tanks are always bathing in loot. Tanks are absolutely spoiled in this regard.

The reverse is true for healers. Suddenly we go from 2 healers (maybe 3) in 10 mans, to 5 healers in 25 mans. Combine that with DPS often rolling on our gear, and it's hardly surprising that our main healers have such difficulty cracking the guild's top 10 gear list.

If this is the case (which I believe it is, to an extent), then it just further separates the gap between tanks into those which have 245+ loot and those still with uldduar/badge loot, again leaving a select few for end-game content.

(side note) the ratio for 5/10 mans is 1:4 not 1:5. 1 tank for 4 others = 5 people)

@Nirva

No, its 1:5. 1 in 5 is a tank in a 5-man & 10-man. 1 in ~8 is a tank in 25-man.

TotC should be done with 2 tanks in fights 2 and 4, none in 3, and 3 in fights 1 and 5.

Sad thing is this ratio can remain in 10 or 25 man.
When there is no real difference in the number of a slot but you add 15 players, you are asking for a problem with how that slot interacts on other levels.

I could spend a week in 5 mans and never be bored. I can actually sit out fights with our other capable tanks in totc.

Healers, not so much because they seem to be a minimum of 1 per 5 people.

Nirva is correct, 1/5 or "one in five" is the same as 1:4 or "one to four." We get the meaning anyway though. :)

Malachi, nope. 1:5 means a *ratio* of one tank *to* five non-tank players, which is a six-person group. 1/5 would be correct as that's a *rate* of one tank *out of* five players.

"The reverse is true for healers. Suddenly we go from 2 healers (maybe 3) in 10 mans, to 5 healers in 25 mans. Combine that with DPS often rolling on our gear, and it's hardly surprising that our main healers have such difficulty cracking the guild's top 10 gear list."

What do you mean suddenly, uncaringbear? Everything stays the same.
1/5 are healers in 5 mans.
2/10 are healers in 5 mans.
5/25 are healers in 5 mans.