Early Guardian?

the reason guardian is better is because it increases
1. your stance rate
2. it avoids attacks, keeps you from breaking your dps and thus allowing you to continue attacking. i know its not a big difference but in a way guardian does have its effect on your dps.

Doesn't increase extremely, though. It increases by 1.6%, which is not very noticeable. Just sayin'

But yeah, all in all, there's more or less no diff as long you wear a shield all day long.