I got tired of reading all it so if I step on someone's toes my apology.
Simply put that I've seen. Bards are for people who want to play clever and inventive characters. They are all about options.
I'll admit I've seen some horrible bards, but then I've seen Bards that could charm a monster with a 40DC will save.
Bards and Druids are two of the most under used but strongest hybrid classes around.
You've just got to have that drive to play one.