Rake or Spirit Strike?

[Silvarain]

True that Spirit Strike may be stronger than Rake, but then, it is an exotic ability for an exotic pet. Overall, all the exotic pets are supposed to be one step up from their lower counterparts, like comparing the silithid's poison web ability to a spider's web or a chimera's lightning/frost breath to a wind serpent's lightning breath.

True, but the exotics aren't exactly balanced that way, and Lord only knows what Blizz will do to us when they rebalance the pets.

yes, the therory is that exotics are better than non-exotics, but Blizz has totally killed that idea save some pet abilities. Blizz has stated many times that they didnt want hunters to "feel like they have to have an exotic". this doesnt make sense to me as i see (and saw when i frist being a hunter) exotics as the... well, kinda like the shot for BM with it being the 51/31 talent. i feel the exotics should be a whole step up from non-exotics seeing as only BM can tame them and BM being..., oh whats the term,... beast masters. dont get me wrong, i do love those 4 extra pet sp but even with my D'saur he doesnt get the dps or the respect as the MM/SV shots