A-P and sometimes orc throw physical dam better than anyone in my opinion. I've seen plenty of ranger fights (even at hero) that result in deaths without the victim ever getting a command. A paladin comes ahead of all the classes that don't have third attack in throwing physical damage, but behind any of the other classes with third in my opinion. That'd not to say you can't find examples of paladins beating warriors in pure melee combat, but it isn't generally the rule.

I was thinking about it on the drive home tonight, and you know? I agree that in a lot of situations a paladin seems heart-sickeningly powerful, even the best possible character for a lot of things. But that being said, I tried and tried to think of the last time I've gotten killed by a paladin, even a massive gang including a paladin, and I'm coming up blank. I'm sure it happened somewhere along the line, but I'm also sure that pretty much everything else is kicking my ass a whole lot more.