I find the lack of lizard love strange, is the higher AC and bonus to hit on opportunity attacks not worth it? Is the wolf's bonus to damage when flanking really worth it? (especially since I plan on being the one attacking when flanking) Or does it apply to me and the wolf? The cat is also nice because of it being trained in stealth, which is potentially more useful than say, endurance.

Also, I think its interesting that I ask 'what's the best path I should take here' and I get a bunch of different answers. Anyone thing that ranged ranger powers would be worth it? I think I'd have to definitely use a lizard in that case, in order to get the better OAs so it'd be a better blocker (the higher AC would help there too)