5 mans: Useless after Karazhan?

The general progression of gear in WoW goes something like this:

If instance X lets more people in than instance Y, it has better gear.

This was true back at 60, with the 20 mans being a lot easier and less rewarding than 40 man content.

It's generally true now, with the 5 mans being easier than the 10 man (Karazhan), which is easier than 25 man content.

Back at level 60, once you'd been through Molten Core 50,000 times, there was really not much point in running the 5 man instances. There were maybe 2-3 items that could be found in the 5 /10man instances that could even compare with the stuff in ZG or MC.

So people didn't really run them. If they did, it was because they were bored or trying to farm up some cash. I know some people took to making naked runs, or running a 5 man with 2 or 3 people. But you didn't run the instances for gear.

So now at 70 with the new heroic instances, has it changed? Is it still worth going back? Not really for the gear. Karazhan gear is the same item level as the best epics from any heroic. So if you're clearing Karazhan, what's the big deal?

I've come up with a list showing why you should still run 5 mans here and there.

1. You are 20% of the group. You are an integral part of the group. It's a lot easier for someone to go AFK during a Karazhan run and still survive. In a 5 man, everyone has to pull their own weight, or else the difference will be very noticable. It's a really good place to make sure that you're pulling your own weight

2. They are relaxing. If you mess up a boss pull in 10 or 25 man content, often the fight's over before it's begun. 5 mans are a little more laidback. You can have a good time and goof around...it takes away some of the stress from the raiding.

3. They can be used for experimenting with your playstyle. If you're thinking about respeccing, or trying a new spell rotation, instead of trying it in 10 or 25 man content where you can't often afford to mess up, try it out in an easier 5 man. It'll make a big difference, since you'll have plenty of time to get used to things.

4. Heroic gems. Sure, you might only be able to use 2-3 of them, but why not grab them and toss them on the piece of gear that you'll use the most? A tiny stat increase can't hurt, right?

5. Primal nethers and patterns: Nothing wrong with snagging some money makers. Green drops, shards, and loot money can help too, especially if there isn't much of a repair bill.

6. Group cohesion. Rubix and I have run so many times together, that we know what each other is going to do. If he's going to AOE and pull agro, I usually know ahead of time. If I get healing agro on a group, I know not to fade until after he's frost nova'd them to see if that works first. Playing with the same people who you run 10 and 25 mans with can really make a difference in a tough spot, since you know how everyone will react to given situations.

7. You're required to use more abilities. Crowd control, counterspells, strange pulls, mobs with weird characteristics. It makes you think more. It makes you use your full arsonal of abilities. On some raid bosses, it's /target, 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1... or 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 3... 5 mans generally require you to watch your environment more, and to be on your toes. 10 and 25 mans are more controlled than 5 mans. You can easily be caught in a double pull if you aren't careful.

I'm certain there are more reasons, but I'd love to see more 5 mans occurring. Especially heroics. Some of those heroics are harder than Karazhan or Gruul. Running them will only help you improve the way you play.