I played a phantasm mesmer for about two years mostly in WvW. A good chunk of the early days, I was just learning to play. Mapping keys instead of clicking things, learning to dodge, etc. About two months ago, I switched to trapper ranger.
Clearly, this is not a comparison of similar things except that I played them both as a WvW roamer. Bottom line: trapper ranger is a bit better roamer option (at least for me) than phantasm mesmer.
With both builds, I feel like I should win most 1v1’s (I still lose some – but I feel like both of these builds can win a 1v1 versus any other profession).
Where the trapper ranger really shines is in taking camps and towers quickly and in 1vX fights. With all the AoE damage, I can clear a camp or a tower much faster than the phantasm mesmer. In two years of roaming as a mesmer, I won maybe three or four 1 v 2 fights and never more outnumbered than that. In two months as a trapper ranger, I’ve won a couple of 1 v 3 fights. For sure, winning most outnumbered fights come down to opponents making mistakes
The phantasm mesmer can apply a bigger burst from a greater range on a single target than the trapper ranger (though probably less than longbow power rangers). The PU condi mesmer has reliable stealth.
My main point is, coming from my background, the trapper ranger seems like it’s in a pretty good place. There are lots of little things I would like to work a bit better – mostly in terms of controlling the pet. In a zerg fight, the pet dies quickly – much like phantasms. But the profession is really interesting and the help on the forums has been great. I only wish I had tried it out sooner…