[Lavache]

when a fight strategy calls for 8 healers - does this generally mean 8 people who are spec'd for healing, or is it 6(ish) spec'd healers and the remainder being people who arent necessarily needed in their spec for the fight i.e. protection paladin or feral druid?

[Clifford]

Generally it means 8 specced healers. Although in my experience most fights are perfectly doable with one less healer. Generally I take seven healers to most fights. But I only take 6 healers to Kael'thas for example.

[Kayella]

I've noticed a lot of strategy websites call for a lot more healers than are entirely necessary. Generally speaking, most fights you're looking at taking 6-8 healers, and yes that would be full specced healers. To be honest, you should very rarely need your hybrids to heal - often it's better that they dps and just get the boss down a little faster. Hope that helps.