Quote Originally Posted by King of Nowhere View Post
you are still using your spells, though.
for the purpose of spell economy, casting hold person to stop an enemy from acting and dealing damage, or allowing the enemy to deal damage that you can cancel with a cure moderate wounds... in both cases, it cost you a 2nd level spell. and with the cure, there's no chance he'll make his saving throw.
You're not wrong, but you always have the cantrip option (or weapon attack). So between "cantrip now and healing after the fight" and "healing now", the cantrip option is better in a lot of cases.