One specific virtue rapes thieves. Ok, I can believe that.

There's another completely seperate virtue that rapes shamen, for example. I don't particularly have a hard time with that.

But I think you're grossly over-estimating how many paladins get temperance. I've had it once, with a Paladin that didn't get over 35. None of my hero paladins ever had it. Retribution is far more common than temperance, and thieves are not that affected by it.

Overall I agree with you, Paladins are one of the most powerful classes in the game. Especially when they get unbreakable/nodisarm shields an weapons. But their biggest weaknesses are RP inflicted. I know you don't want to believe it, but Paladins have a LOT of restrictions in the way they can act. And when they don't act like they should, they won't get all the loving that you think makes them so powerful.