Long cast times give me time to think about what I'm going to do next; make a sandwich or turn on Arrested Development?

But without long cast times, we'd lose the opportunity to pray that the heal makes it before the tank becomes floor paste. Isn't that fun for you guys?

*crickets*

Thanks you Conrad for that comment, i LOLed IRL! :)

"Anything over about a 0.5 cast time drives me insane. This is why I don't play caster classes anymore :("

If you feel that way, then you're clearly not a healer, and never have been. That's fine, there's nothing wrong with not being a healer. However, why would you care what Blizz is doing to a healing class? And the flip side of that - why would Blizzard need to take account of your perspective when they design that healing class?

I used to be a holy priest Jay.

Cast times slowly drove me to the brink of sanity.

After I murdered a few tanks and dumped their bodies a river, I went and had a cup of tea, then rerolled as a warrior.

Playing a class that can heal doesn't make you a healer. Healing in a raid doesn't make you a healer.

@Heilig
"Playing a class that can heal doesn't make you a healer."
Agreed.

"Healing in a raid doesn't make you a healer."
....wait, what?

Roll a warlock. Get the succubus. Get Soulfire. Go to a BG.
Tell me that wasn't fun?
I'll take a 4-6 second cast time thanks. The big explosions that result from timing it well are just too much fun. (But yes, sitting there doing nothing at all is NOT a fun way to play the game. It's why I'm a little nervous about the DK rune changes, but we'll have to see how that plays out.)

No True Scotsman

ib4: ONLY IF YOU CAN CURE CANCER WITH A TOUCH ARE YOU TRULY A HEALER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lvU-DislkI

I think what Heilig is saying that even though you're playing a healing class, and are healing in a raid, 'being a healer' is not only the class and spec, but also the mentality behind your gameplay. Are you healing because you enjoy 'whack-a-mole'? Or are you healing because you like the fact that you're doing your bit to keep the boss off everyone's but the tanks' ass?

In my mind (and I think in Heilig's too) you aren't a 'true' healer until you're healing with the second mentality.