My SK is only 53 so I don't know the high end game. But I suggest STA all the way. Unless you become level 65 with a ton of AAs and raid with uber guilds, chances are your STA will not be maxed easily. Since sta adds hp, it is a must to have it as high as possible.
As a SK, size of the mana pool isn't really an issue; at least it isn't for my 53 gnome SK. FT1 earring is currently enough for me to keep my mana at above 50% just about all the time. (I only get mana regen buff when grouping with enchanter/bard/BL, and I never "needed" to go get kei or whatever)
I use the lifetap proc when I am good on mana and switch to mana tap proc if I am getting below 40%. I've never ran oom yet. One thing all SK and Pal should keep in mind is, there is usually no need to cast the highest level spell possible. I never use high mana cost spells unless necessary. I just use the lowest level darkness to tag inc, taunt when the mob arrives and a cast of direct hate spell (450 hate) keep the mob on me the whole fight. If no other snarer in group and mobs flee then I use the higher level darkness but my mana still flows fine. In some rare occations where other group members don't watch their own agro, usually another cast of 450 hate brings the mob right back to me.
With this setup I can keep all the taps up (life/mana tap buff, AC tap, atk tap) and I still often have mana left over to cast a DoT on just about every mob.
Edited, Mon Jan 19 01:08:14 2004 by Assailant