I'm a TLP player... never tried the deeper game... but unless something WILDLY changes later on, there's no denying a bard in a group is a huge benefit. Admittedly I also focus on melee DPS, so maybe its less a boost to casters.
That being said, I've never seen casters truly keep up with melee. Even with OOC regen, the fact they have to med and just do nothing for a while just means they fall behind a melee who can always keep swinging.
I actually have a special spot for chanters... its a class I like and I get a real satisfaction turning a big pull into a casual fight. The mezzed mobs forced to just stand there and watch their friends die, one by one.
But as my overall toons got better, the sheer DPS and tankiness meant CC just wasn't needed.