As a Thane Player:
• Runemasters will hit much, much harder than Thanes will. The spec-Darkness DD delves for 219.6 at 2.8 second cast. Thanes best single target DD is 184 at 2.4 second cast. So, while we might cast a smidgen faster, we won't hit as hard, which is okay. As a Thane, I'm there to interrupt and put out decent damage numbers at range, but it's the Runemasters/Spiritmasters job to liquify Highlander faces at range. Our spells are just what we get when we spec Stormcalling, rather than receiving baseline spells like Runemasters do, so it makes sense that our SCing spells would be better than your baselines, but in turn, your spec spells are going to be much better than our SCing ones, cause we're a hybrid, not a dedicated caster. You're not going to be using that baseline DD if you spec Darkness. You'll use the spec one, cause...well, why wouldn't you?
• Acuity buffs affect you, which translates to even more spell damage. They do not affect Thanes, sadly.
• Much easier time getting templated, as far as I am aware. Casters in general have an easier time than Tanks, who in turn have a much easier time than Hybrids. It all comes back to the D&D term M.A.D., which means Multiple Ability Dependant. Casters need a few core focuses to template into, and getting there is a lot easier. Tanks need more attribute points and whatnot (Strength, Quickness, Shield, Parry, etc). Hybrids tend to need as much as they can from both the Caster and Tank fields. Spell power, Strength, Dexterity, Shield, Weapon, etc etc. We've a lot of things to template for, and a lot of times we just have to make some sacrifices until we can get -the- item that will bolster our template nicely.
• Pulsing Bladeturn is amazing. Nearsight is also amazing.
• As mentioned above - Bolts. They're cool, and they can potentially hit like a truck.
• You can debuff your own damage type as Darkness, which really, really, really sucks to have done to you.