properly played they have always been extreemly effective...the trick was just that there are hardly any talented players playing them.
Resto and Enhance healing are both going to be very sexy come 3.2 and already are from the addition of the stoneclaw glyph among other things. Dont forget the Totem Bar becoming available which will give a lot of mid-level shammys a much easier time of managing their totems.
Also to clarify its wind shock that is losing the global cd with the other shocks, I know you meant that, but I was just clearing that up.
To find "perfect" shaman gear you really dont have to look much further than other healing classes gear, with the main exception obviously being a green tower shield and a boa mace rather than a staff.