Yes, assuming that there is an actual choice. Currently the damage spells are more/just as powerful for healing purposes in most situations while also adding damage. Nerf the healing of offensive spells significantly so there actually is some drawback to using them and we'll have to make decisions, more healing or damage at the cost of healing, which is exactly what you are asking for and not how disc is right now.
I agree entirely.I agree I'd rather see our actual "healing" spells buffed in order to have Atonement take a hit. Unfortunately, Blizzard cannot seem to make up their minds. Obviously we were overpowered in 5.1 but I think the extent to which they nerfed our actual usage of "healing" spells was too much. Now, you see atonement spam instead of say...poh/spirit shell spam. Its just frustrating tbh.
I think all healing classses are stuck with too many smartheals right now, but disc are the worst "offenders" (on some fights there's litterarly a handful of globals where I target anything but the tank or the boss). I'll agree that shamans and possibly mistweavers are almost as bad regarding this.Again, not particularly defending atonement as mentioned before, I just think people need to have a bit of perspective.
Disc wouldn't be competitive with the other healers if atonement was removed right now. I think it should be (or nerfed significantly), but we do need buffs in other areas if this happens.Disc priests are still VERY strong healers even without atonement healing. On somthing like tsulong, there are baddies all around for your to regen mana on. You just actually have to cast heals. Additionally you can be the raid/tank healer and your sheilds benefit from the buff you get from tsulong's breath. Which trivializes that portion.