"Keep in mind that state of DPS "lists the DPS for each class as compiled from the top parses from World of Logs." That's for top players, at the top level of gear and progression. That's for top players, at the top level of gear and progression. For any mage in normal mode gear I've seen, Arcane will put out higher numbers."

It uses the top 200 parses from 25 man normal modes. The absolute best mages (with the best gear) would be pumping out much higher dps from heroic modes. Regarding single-target stand and nuke fights with minimal movement, the data would agree with you, arcane over fire. There are very few of those though.

"I've never found Arcane challenging - ever."

Nor have I. However, I will restate what I meant before. On the run, an arcane mage's dps drops below almost every other dps spec in the game. So the "challenge," so to speak, is to learn encounters cold to minimize your movement, and learn how to get out of the fire as quickly as possible to maximize your dps. Maximizing your activity time as a caster who really only uses non-movement cast-time spells is what the challenge is, not maintaining the rotation. What you described is the "shoot and scoot" method, and it's a hallmark of great arcane mages. Well done, friend, you've mastered the intended playstyle of the arcane mage.

"The rudeness here kind of ruined it for me, to be honest."

Wut?

(ie - lighten up, yeesh).