Condition Rangers = High DOT, not burst damage. When played correctly, you can stack an average of about 15 Bleeds (although I have been able to max 25 by myself before) and a continuous poison debuff. Not to mention, freeze, cripple, dazed/stun, vulnerability, and interruption skills. The Trait line for Marksmanship bonus is +Power / + Condition Duration so think of it as extra damage that can be comparable to burst damage, on top of the DOTs. If you're good enough to chain your kills in WvW or maybe even SPVP, you can carry a weapon with a Superior Sigil of Corruption which adds +10 Condition Damage for every mob/player that you kill with a maximum limit of 25 (250 Condition damage bonus). As far as survivability goes, Wilderness Survival, the main trait line for Condition Rangers adds +Toughness along with the +Condition Damage bonus. There is also a Grandmaster Major Skill called "Signet of the Beastmaster" which allows the player to benefit from the active signet skills that the pets get; which means, Signet of Stone (**grants 6 seconds invulnerability**, 120CD), Signet of the Hunt (next attack damage is boosted, 30CD), and, well I wouldn't suggest Signet of Renewal because you wouldn't want to suck up all those conditions from your allies. TL;DR, I eat Mesmers for breakfast. XD
I'm planning on making a burst damage thief next though so we'll see how that goes.

OH, AND HOORAY I'M 80 NOW ^^