Prot benefitsFollow

1.) Yes, protection is, if anything.
2.) Yes, but in disagreement with 90% of the people here, I feel that paladins are the 3rd best tanking class in the game, and warriors are much superior.
3.) Stamina, shield block, spell damage, and general mitigation
4.) You need to clarify this a bit. Good prot gear in the end game right now is tier 6, but you're not gonna hit 70 and be able to immediately get it. Pre-kara gear, you're mostly going to go for protection warrior gear plus a good spell damage weapon.

probaly cause it's been asked alot of times. not to mention some of what you wanted to know is in the faq. if not all but number 2.

and as for them being the 3rd best tanking class in the game it all depends on the situation and what your doing if raiding single probaly better if takeing multi mobs while lvling give me pally anyday.

i personaly at lvl 53 have tanked wanting to say 10+mobs in brd. it was over by one of the named there are pats of like 4-5 with an officer by them well we was killing one group and another started to come so i ran to them aoe and then round them all up into one nice group on front of me. now lets see a warrior or druid hold that many that easy and fast. but i feel that i do lack some single target on named when tanking compared to my warrior who i havent played after patch so i know it's probaly little diff now.

but being this is mostly raid informantion i dont know much of that yet hehe. i heard we was over looked mainly due to lack of hp but now we have more bonus in our spec so may change.

i love my prot spec although questing makes kinda harder i tryed a 2 hander out and still not that good guys in SG hurt alot think it's the fire. tryed aura but dont really help at all. mainly the dragons so far. thought of going ret but then wouldnt be able to tank all the mobs i want to in brd.