Bold statement, Smash, and it is your prerogative to feel this way. I, on the other hand, think they did it like this to avoid creating another HOMM clone. We have plenty of them already - Disciples 3 being the latest in the long line
Why do you feel this way about the Paladin tree? It has some really great skills: Resurrection, learning, prayer, voice of the dragon, persuasion, even scouting has been buffed up.