Key is to get a palladium torque made when your level 20, use it for 10 levels, and then turn it in for the quest when your ready for an upgrade anyway.
This item no wort the rare., and yea the necklace of flowing orbs is much better., and each orb is like 2 g you'lll spend some 20 g if buy all orbs., and will have a best item., and awesome experience., or you can make all collectyions for each orb., anyway is much better even at lvl 60 some players still use it.
I agree this item is no good for tanks. I wouldnt care so much if the palladium torque were not so difficult to find, i have 4 toons scouring it in locations stated on this site, and still no torque. Oh well, ill get it eventually, but have been done for long time now.