This is the basic pali outline I have so far, for trying out the new enhancements. I'm letting room for him to grow in case they're ever 'fixed' but I don't plan to actually raid/grind with him unless I'm incredibly impressed with the new changes.

Race: Smelly Dwarf Until devs boost the other races. Eeesh.

str: 16
dex: 14
con: 16
int: 10
wis: 10
cha: 12

The premise: He'll start sword and board, with the option of becoming a dual wielder when he pulls a +3 dex tome (which he would if I am ever convinced he'll stand a chance to 'keep up' with rangers or fighters damage wise) and the option to take combat expertise if he gets a +3 int tome and pali spells like DF are ever fixed to not break combat expertise, and I think he can surpass rangers and fighters AC-wise.

feats: power attack, cleave, imp. critical slashing, dodge, CE, misc.

He'll use an MFP with a +6 dex item to squeeze 2 more AC out of dwarven armor mastery without having to get those 2 AC from a mithril tower shield (and the -2 to hit and burned feat). Once there's a +3 dex tome, I can squeeze 1 more AC

feats may eventually change to: TWF, ITWF, GTWF, IC:S, PA, misc.

Skills: intimidate and umd.

In the end, the new paladins will need to either be better at AC than other melees, or be comparable in dps to be worth it. I don't think either of those applies right now, but I'm willing to try, while creating something I can shift either way depending on what the final verdict from the devs turns out to be: defense or offense.