Vexryn has a good guide. Its mostly made for pallys but our gearing is very similar and we can adapt the gear for us. The method of this list is for most DR for each slot and not necessarily a guide to get ctc or gem/enchant it. The only thing I need to check is that if we can get enough CTC that we can use the stam trinket while maintaining block cap.

Vexryn's Tank Gear List (by slot) | Vexryn's Guides

Thanks for noting my list Runtime!

Indeed, I ended out using a basic sorting algorithm of ilvl first, and then mastery > dodge/parry > expertise/hit, given that different tank classes place a slightly different value on whether to take higher ilvl (which implicitly means higher stamina and armor for EH) with weaker itemization or lower ilvl with better CTC.

As with warriors, we paladins are certainly gearing CTC > all right now. The primary issue comes down to Armsaun's post, which is where, after CTC, you rank EH vs avoidance vs threat (or in reality, I'd actually slightly distinguish raw stamina {for magic burst survival} vs classic EH {including armor}.

Through Firelands, I was generally prioritizing as:
CTC > Avoidance > EH > Raw stamina > Threat

Although I'll grant our guild wasn't on the bleeding edge of progression, where being undergeared for the content (implicit in world leading progression guilds) changes the priority to CTC > Raw stamina > EH > Avoidance > Threat, and arguably even Raw stamina > CTC > EH > Avoidance > Threat for some progression fights.

As we start into Dragon Soul, I'm shifting a bit to CTC > Avoidance > Raw Stamina > EH > Threat, as there is definitely more magic burst here so some raw stamina stacking may be helpful. But so far - at least given my 390-ish ilvl for the content - I'm finding this is quite sufficient to stay alive.

When we shift to heroic progression, though, where - if the normal mode fights are any indication - there will be some UGLY magic burst damage on some fights - I'm expecting to change priority to:
CTC > Raw stamina > EH > Avoidance > Threat

As my concerns are basically: #1 Be block-capped to smooth incoming physical damage; #2 Have a health pool sufficient to survive magic burst; and #3 Get some dodge/parries in there so my healers don't squish their mana. Obviously, detailed gearing decision priorities will still vary from fight to fight based on boss mechanics, though. I still maintain an Outfitter gear set for each boss in the raid, as virtually every fight I find a desire to swap around a few pieces of gear and/or some trinkets.

Any reason why we're still talking about EH vs raw stamina? They seem the same to me in Cata, because the other component, armor, can no longer be geared for, with the removal of the bonus armor stat, armor trinkets and certain enchanting choices. So since armor is removed from the equation, there's no point in distinguishing both.

So the whole tanking dilemma is CTC, pure avoidance and stamina. There can be an argument made to both, but at first I'm inclined for raw stamina. It could be just an unlucky, small log sample (specially considering how few fights break the 5 min mark), but looking at my guild's logs, the only major mechanic that can be avoided is Sunder Armor from Warmaster Blackhorn. For the rest of the fights, melee is 3rd to 4th source of damage, in most cases and bosses abilites are unavoidable damage.

I'm also specifically looking at the souldrinker, so stacking stamina is a DPS increase;

As far as I can tell, there are 4 arguable upgrades once we have 4 of our T13 items. The Shoulders could be replaced with the Brackenshell Shoulderplates from Morchok, the gloves with H T12 gloves, the head with Helm of Blazing Glory from H Baleroc, and the legs with Foundations of Courage from blacksmithing. Given that the gloves and head would be replaced with gear from last tier, I'd say choose between the shoulders and legs.

Of course, getting your 4-piece set comes first, so if you get the opportunity, take legs (or shoulders) to finish your set.