One of the best ways I've found for time versus rewards for me, goes as follows for PLing.
Setup Ranger/Shm/Druid/Mage/Enchanter/Bard
I use a 6 box setup for PL'ing (I do you don't have to). My PL group makeup Ranger has stacking dmg shield with other classes (who I use for pulls snare ftw), SHM for Slow proc buff = major aggro on Ranger and of course buffs, Druid (Emergency DS/Ports/Buffs, Mage for Coth and emergency dmg shield, Enchanter (which is optional) but I bring him around for tash specifically. Why? Because Tash is great for the bard who I normally create to use for doing the dmg, I generally don't use AE Pots ever, as making a bard is free and easy. Last Character is Bard for stacking dmg shield buffs, and AE slow/snare if for some reason I need it.
I use DS the entire time, and it works out great. I can generally on regular server (no bonus) I save LOTD for PoF; I can get 1-50 in roughly an hour if there's no one in my way. 50 to 60 is about 45 mins, 60 to 70, well if you time it right, and camp your characters out between pulls, you can be 70 within an hour and half to two hours.
My route:
CR 1-20
Blight 20-35
Velks 35-50 (debuffs become really important here Tash/Malo from here on out)
Blood Fields 50-60 (sometimes I stay till 65) Its slower, but sometimes PoF is camped. Its easy pulls and easy money.
PoF C2 60-70
Dragon Scale Hills 70 - 75, this is where you can use a heroic paladin, which i'm still working towards getting up, group it with a heroic wizard, or a merc whichever you wish, let the macro do the work. If you plan to PL here, you'll have to be a little more active with your group, but you should be close to group with your main group by then. Or if this is your main group, get to 75 and then go do TBM content, run the instances get marks for gear or go to House of Thule starting at 80.
Anyhow, I hope this helps, this is a route I've used for years, and I finally got it down to where i'm really happy with how it works, and the time frame I get things done. So, I figured i'd post it up and share it. Best of luck!
Also, I know this is a bit more information you were looking for, but maybe you can use this to help in the future!