I know the paladin is poorly designed (A/V-shaped and all that) but seriously? Ahead of the suckastic swordmage?
/cry
The swordmage does not suck and never has sucked, and was in fact perfectly playable with just the FRPG.
The Paladin, on the other hand... *vomit*
Swordmage for the win. (And I'm still not sure how it 'sucks' other than not being Defender/Striker like you wanted it to be. Damage ain't everything.)