Regarding the question of combat as a favored category for the druid, I'd say: Surely, why not? Everyone is a fighter, isn't she? The question, as always, is: How do you want to play!? I think a druid offers multiple chances to create a different gameplay: A druid could use talents like "speak to animals", skills like "beastmastery" and "animal handling" or his spells to call the forces of nature, like "summon animal" and so on. He could disguise as plant or animal magically, via talent (shapechanger) or stay in the back hidden by subterfuge. I think, such a character who doesn't fight by himself could be a lot of fun.
I play a hunter/ranger in one campaign whom I try to develop in such a direction.