it’s a levelling guide Blitz Krieg - A SSF, HC-Viable, New-Player-Friendly Warlord
i think the issue is you’re default assuming shield = tanky (which it’s not in GD), and then forgetting the other parts that make a char tanky
You can make a 2h warder tanky, you can make a 2h commando tanky, you can make a caster tanky
*you might also be misunderstanding or overestimating the mention about using multiple skills, it’s not about spreading thin, but picking things that synergize, and CD skills afford that options (eg using 2 skills insead of 1 spamable)
Demo is good because it has native regen and blast shield circuit breaker, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a squish demo nor that all demos are tanky.
Same with the shield concept, since block doesn’t work on a crap ton of things it’s in some parts just a different stat stick, a stat stick that then has to be utilized to work or make up for what you’re exchanging in return.
Likewise you should look at what soldier offers to actually use, because otherwise you might just slap on something else and be “tankier” by virtue of being stronger because you’re killing things 3x as fast despite not taking the exact 1:1 same dmg.
Inquis has inquis seal which will work for any class taking it, regardless of soldier etc, doesn’t mean tactician makes the best use of it or 0 use of it, nor does it mean Seal will carry a class on its own. And if there is no dmg or skill synergy you might not want to just tack on something with the apperance of defensive support just to end up overall “worse” because it meshes no better than other things would that then also had synergy.
Cadence itself can be an… “acquired taste”… for levelling. It’s technically not a bad levelling skill, there are definitely worse, but its special nature means it’s something that might not feel as comfy to all, this can then be “felt” by being 2h or ranged etc and early vs late game going up down in appeal.
*those that do end up liking it seem to like it alot (totally not biased 
)
what does all this mean, well, you can make a caster purifier that’s tankier than a potential AA tactician, you can make an elementalist that’s tankier than a commando, it depends on how you string them together and how you utilize their skills and support. Might go as far as saying strong synergy can be better than just having a couple health/regen/armour passives, or slapping on a shield.
Also that there good ol’ meme “a strong defence is a strong offence”, this can in essence apply in GD to builds that rely on weapon attack+adcth, (but ofc also just killing things fast mean they don’t get to hit you as much as something that kills 30x slower.)