Masochism - Yes or No?

The skill adds +2 to your two most important attributes. Why would you not take it? I've just been testing it a little, but my reasoning is based on this:
1. It seems to make MM's fall behind the team more.
2. Bar compression, what else could I take? (This is really the importaint one)
3. How much damage does it really add in practice?

That said, I'm still using it on most of my chars. I'm mostly just curious of what I actually loose by not doing so?

That said, I'm still using it on most of my chars. I'm mostly just curious of what I actually loose by not doing so? Not much. I have seen Olias using it and saccing himself to death when he was already at low health, with both my healers and all the enemies dead. Perhaps he was trying to cast PS on himself then with Masochism on and murdered himself in the process.

Use it if you have the bar space and it grants you a breakpoint. Otherwise I don't think it makes that much of a difference. I usually bring masochism on my MM as there are not that many other good alternatives to bring along.

Not much. I have seen Olias using it and saccing himself to death when he was already at low health, with both my healers and all the enemies dead. Perhaps he was trying to cast PS on himself then with Masochism on and murdered himself in the process. I have had some survivability issues with it as well so I stopped using it.

I've just been testing it a little, but my reasoning is based on this:
1. It seems to make MM's fall behind the team more.
2. Bar compression, what else could I take? (This is really the importaint one)
3. How much damage does it really add in practice?

That said, I'm still using it on most of my chars. I'm mostly just curious of what I actually loose by not doing so? Bar compression would be a valid argument if there were good replacements, but what else is there to use? Besides, the standard MM bar already has a free slot (Putrid Bile).

Bar compression would be a valid argument if there were good replacements, but what else is there to use? Besides, the standard MM bar already has a free slot (Putrid Bile). You'd seriously loose Putrid Bile before Masochism? O.o

You'd seriously loose Putrid Bile before Masochism? O.o I would choose both masochism and deathly swarm over putrid bile (which is exactly what I do). Putrid bile is not reliable and I have no idea why its still on the mainbar of the wiki build.

I have had some survivability issues with it as well so I stopped using it. Most of the time, Masochism works out fine. Maybe it is just me, but I don't feel a big difference with or without Masochism on my MM bar since my mesmers kill so much faster than the minions do and with so many spirits, my team can usually survive well even if all the minions are dead. But like I said, I take it because I have not found a better alternative.

If you are having survivability issues with your MM, try fitting in blood bond. It works well with masochism. With a superior death magic rune and masochism, my MM is frequently the favorite target, but blood bond balances all these away very well and helps redirect damage to the minions making them explode more.