I'm really surprised by the lack of significant talent changes in the Shaman class. Outside of some minor tweaks, the talents have largely remained the same since the start of the expansion. Some talents really need to get changed, or removed completely.
Here are my thoughts;
Tier 1: This tier is functional, and fulfills the desperate need of the class for a defensive CD. I don't have any issue with this tier.
Tier 2: This tier bugs the hell out of me. I dislike having both CCs in this tier tied to existing abilities. I also dislike WW totem being in this tier, since its not a CC, but a CC removal ability.
Changes: WW should really be baslined, and replaced with Repulsion Totem, or even Undertow Totem due to the lack of Water Totems. Frozen Power should remove the damage component from Frost Shock and have a separate CD. Earthgrasp is fine.
Tier 3: Terrible tier IMO. I would scrap these talents and just start over. However, a lot of people enjoy CoE and TR, so I would keep them just because there really isn't much else you can do with totems.
Changes: Reluctantly keep the existing talents, but Totem Trap Launcher should be baselined, and actually function like Hunter trap launcher. Reolace Totem Projection with Elemental Harmony.
Tier 4: I'm fine with this tier. Though Druids supposedly getting Nature's Swiftness baselined makes me think Shaman should get the same thing with Ancestral Swiftness.
Tier 5: This tier is simply a mess, and its because HTT is so overwhelmingly better than everything else that nothing can compete with it.
Changes: This has been discussed to death. Either baseline HTT and AG, or bring Conductivity up to the other talent's levels of usefulness.
Tier 6: This tier is boring and dull. Its like Tier 2, but worse, and what makes it worse is that its our level 90 talents. Talents that should make our eyes pop with amazement and satisfaction. Instead, they're just "there". We use them because we have to use them. On my Monk, I was quite happy to finally unleash Xuen, or zip around a room with Chi Torpedo. When I got to level 90 on my Shaman, I literally looked at my talent selection and sighed.
Changes: Primal Elementalist should grant an Elemental pet based on spec. So yes, Shaman become a pet class, and the Elemental pet is permanent, and assists the Shaman in their role. Elemental Blast should have an AoE component, and FINALLY have a healing component to make it worthwhile for Restoration Shaman to pick up. Unleashed Fury can stay or go. I don't care either way.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, post them here.