Toadwart
It might be the optimal way to play by a small percentage, but especially on Release content that just does not matter. Not at all. And I am quite sure that the haste meta will not decide your success or failure in later content. Yes, it might be optimal by the numbers but you as a player have to play at a certain level to make full use of meta builds. Otherwise, at least in this game, numbers-wise sub par builds become viable as well. So point taken, it might be optimal numbers wise but I still digress that it is the only way to play a good bard. I would fully agree that there is only one way to play a class if we would be talking about other established MMOs out there, but on this one, meta hunting is not needed.
Bard actually has not only those two. Harmony makes your basic heals also generate shields. On top of that, the Mastery does not only increase your shields but your overall healing as well. So no, you do not stat just for the shields but for overall as well. And besides, I'd rather stat for stronger emergency heals than for shorter overall CDs and faster healing. The stronger emergencies and overall bigger heals have a far bigger value in tight situations to me than being able to pump more basic heals in a shorter time frame. But well, its both playable.
On a final note: Reaper has the fake heal and "spirit link". And yeah, a few other spells that could be considered something of an emergency spell. But in essence, when Reaper used those two there are no comparable tools left for him. Yes, the fake heal is strong on itself but the Reaper has by far not the sheer number of emergency tools the Bard has. Not saying that reaper is bad tho, its also a good healing class.