The Swiss Army knife nature of Deathrite Shaman is appealing, as is its defensive body and the incidental graveyard hate it provides, but it was always the mana generation ability that pushed this card over the top
Thats incredibly powerful, especially against Pokmon with high retreat costs
(Frustrating the opponent with a Teflon life total is just as much board control as it is mind games; you are subtly influencing how they play what they play, and as irritated as life-gain and damage prevention makes some players, theyre bound to start making mistakes
Durability that lasts
Drannith Magistrate, Sanctum Prelate, Archon of Emeria, Lavinia, Azorious Renegade, Boromir, Warden of the Tower, Aven Mindcensor & Containment Priest shut down a LOT of strategies