TBH I'd still question your numbers - I still think it's closer (but certainly not below) 2x. Anyway, I agree it was a buffer, but certainly you were gibbed quicker in TBC; no questions asked. If the tank had to tank 2 mobs from a pull you got rid of the DPS who couldn't CC and went back to trade etc.
Nevertheless, I'd still maintain that until the servers had reached the stage where you were more likely than not to meet a raid geared or equivalent party member the dungeons were not AoE snoozefests. Once 3/5 were Naxx+ (or the tank was 220+) geared fine; but I would say that wasn't happening until Ulduar was well out.
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The competition is so tough...
The last definately loses points for the choice of music