Victim said:
Err, compared to what other core dieties? Strength and Sun are both strong domains, and the good domain is required to make Holy weapons.
I (perhaps incorrectly) generally assume that Flarlaghn, Olidammara, Wee-Jas and Boccob (utility clerics) or Kord, Hieronous, St Cuthbert (Melee clerics) offer more competitive domains. I seem to get more out of Obad-Hai in terms of cool turning options compared to Sun.
Pelor isn't a terrible choice but he sure isn't optimized. The most amazing combinations with clerics, in my opinion, involve poaching tricks from the arcanes and his domains don't do that.
Victim said:
Only if you assume that other class race combinations weren't playtested. Only trying out a mere double handful of builds hardly even merits the word the word playtest anyway.
Moreover, the 3.0 - 3.5 switch allowed further "play-testing" which seems to have been at least partially ignored. Druids and Dwarves only became stronger after more play, despite being good before. Half elves were throw a few scraps but had no significant changes made despite complaints.
It is possible that the Druid needed one of several boosts as compared to the cleric. One of: better animal companion, spontaneous summoning, better whildshape and natural spell would have done it nicely. Adding all four was a bit over the top.
The Druid is also awkwardly balanced. In core a poor spell list balances out the high level Druid (it gets many good spells a level later then other classes and surprisingly weak spells overall). Bu this seems to be the favorite thing for people to fix in "splatbooks" -- let's give the Druid some decent spells that are nature themed. Often this goes over the top completely --> look at the pre-errata Miasma and Quill Blast in the Complete Divine which are the best combat spells of their level. But in general this balancing feature is rapidly forgotten and, as a result, the Druid ends up really good as you add material.
Yes -- improving the spell list was option 5 for balancing the Druid and they manage to include it indirectly as well. :\
As for the Half-Elf -- that was the worst fix I can imagine. Ensure that one "suboptimal mechanic" (Diplomacy) can be wildly broken by the race. Make every other element of the race worse than a default human. I love Half-Elves but you play them because being a Half-Elf is fun not because the mechanics are rewarding.
In terms of the Dwarf, I have no idea what they were thinking which is why I hypothesize about the iconics. It's just so good for so little that I honestly do not understand.

The slow movement == highly annoying but any class that wears heavy armor is not penalized at all!
Why would anybody play anything other than a Dwarf Fighter except for flavor?