Ranger- Am I a glutton for punishment?

[Itching]

Serious question.

I never had the experience to play a ranger on live at all. I have been tempted to roll a ranger on this server and I have a few questions.

1. How do they stack up against other DPS?
2. I know they are aggro hogs and can die frequently but do their numbers meet the merit of pulling it so much?
3. Other than tracking/pulling in outdoor zones what does a ranger provide to a group that other classes might fill better?
4. Does life get better for a ranger when Velious hits, or does it stay about the same?