Can Blizz explain the point of Howling Blast?

I'm trying to see Howling Blast (Frost DK's final talent) point, other than "woot look at all the big trash mob numbers" or the sporadic rime procs. It's supposed to be used in lieu of Oblit according to an old GC post, but with the 10-sec cooldown that isn't happening. And even if it does the same single target damage as Oblit, then there's no point in using it. Yes it does amazing AoE damage, but it's highly situational, doesn't have much range and simply doesn't warrant a 51-pt position.

It's a mediocre 51-pter, and frankly 2% str 2 expertise would be more useful (21/50 Blood/Frost). Especially when compared to the DPS burst abilities of Unholy and Blood, it simply doesn't have the utility that the other respective trees have down there. You can incrementally buff or nerf it, but the problem isn't minutiae of numbers--it's the very purpose of the spell. Burst potential or more utility is what people are looking for, because while Frost spec has the scaling potential with Frost Strike, it pales when comparing to the controllable burst of Gargoyle and Dancing Rune Weapon. Waiting for a Rime proc isn't very controllable or rewarding, and that's a key difference with HB, which makes it inferior.

Plus the nerfs seem geared for a DW spec that doesn't exist. DKs don't plunge into 51 pts anymore, so why the shuffle?

Some random suggestions:

1) Make it apply Frost Fever by default, have the glyph slightly reduce cooldown.
2) or give it a secondary effect, like affecting the opponent's casting speed.
3) or have it break Divine Shield... (hah kidding on that one)

When droves of Frost people are pondering alternatives to putting 51 pts into Frost, you should realize that it's just not what Frost DKs want... or need. Considering the nerfs to Lichborne, Unbreakable armor and other tanking abilities I don't think DK tanks feel like HB would rescue them from all their tanking woes either.