Tanking and healing question

[Pocky]

I was wondering, would our healers prefer someone who is hit less in general, or mitigates damage taken more?

In general, I'm trying to figure out if I should focus on +Defense or +Absorption for my gear.

Tanks, what are you going for?

I'm also looking at two specs:

A) (this one has Commanding Awe, which reduces all damage taken by 4%) http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500dMG0uZhGMMrhdzMM.1

and

B) (This follows the "traditional" tanking spec) http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#500dMGbubrkuRZoMZRr.1

[Chamomile]

I've mostly been going defense over absorb, mostly because the 'good' equipment modification stuff is defense.