I'm a bit lost as to what we actually want healers to do in group play. If we want them to spend most of their time healing, we'd be better off to cut both heal potency and mana cost in half. Thus you have to spend 2 GCDs healing for every 1 GCD you spend now. You'd probably have to adjust boss burst down slightly.
If we want them to heal and do damage, we're probably better off without cleric stance, because it would simplify things for the average player.
It depends on your build. If you take the 2 Beacon talent, you want to stand in melee. If you take the other talent, you generally want to stand with the ranged.I agree with everything you're saying here. I do want to add though that I actually raid with a top Holy Paladin, and he's very rarely if ever near the melee. They scrapped that melee healer stuff as best I can tell.