I was at six way with a guild group when our shaman had to leave and there were no slowers LFG. But there was a monk. So I offered to camp for my shaman, get the monk to pull and we're set. Shammy needs to ding 68 anyway with six spells in his backpack. So we're set.
After twenty minutes or so someone says, our dps sucks. Yeah they say, missing the bard. The monk goes, you have a bard? I say yeah, he's camped here, but I need to ding. Ten more minutes, shammy dings. They give me a couple to mem new spells. Buff. Then it's, we'll live with bard slow, bring him back. DPS goes up dramatically.
That kill rate you mention is a major factor in your exp rate. Not just the exp per mob. Anytime your MT is pulling your kill rate, your exp, goes down. If a pally (hell, even a monk) is pulling, you're not bringing them in as fast, not killing as fast, not getting the dps. Since your group has a chanter (which is not usually the case), you may not need mezz. But if it's slowing you down, the exp you think you're gaining by staying down a level is illusional. A good group, with a good puller clears Odi, Ghio and DEK from six way with time to spare. If you're not clearing all three, you're slacking. So level up and get your spells.
And what will do you do when the easy camps like 6way, taskfiend/blind and tatics are taken? Go home? Or move to realms, arcana or some other spot where not having a real puller will really slow you down? Your pally won't split the named rooms. You have to. Anybody can pull arcana, the mobs will eventually split themselves. But it's a test of patience. And if it's exp you're looking for, you won't find it there unless you can split them quickly. And mezz split is fast. After you get it you'll kick yourself for not getting it earlier.
PS. Just looked at your magelo, so I guess I'll post mine (http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=394292). A tank with your level stuff couldn't consdier mpg, so the wonders of being a bard.