You are probably smarter than me and more advanced, given the question you asked.

However.".I am full melee and will not be attacking defending with anything but melee troops."   maybe is badly stated, if  you meant, I only use melee what ever I am doing . 

If you had said defending attacking,it might have had more sense.

Or did you perhaps mean attacking a defense?

Lynx is only for defending, not attacking, so isn't really going to help with attacks. 

Lots of players have ideas about how the game works , what is best, and what suits their playing style, so opinion is going to be divided, even if the evidence is concrete, as it is in some cases, like Guardsman gear for instance.

I would suggest, as you do not know what you are going to be attacked with, something that covers all eventualities would be better than something specific,

though you might be better off against those that attack you with the same troop type as you have,or those that you are strongest against, but not those you are weakest against.

 With a little planning it should be possible to test yours and your clans thoughts on the matter.  

EDIT:

Whilst writing my post , CIM has answered your question,but perhaps were already persuaded of the argument by replacing your Lynx gear.

gwalk03 said:

This is specifically referring to defense of PoP... have slowly replaced the lynx gear I used holding pop to melee special gear as I get each piece ...

If I only send my melee troops to defend pop how can the lynx gear be better than a type specific piece of gear with slightly better overal stats.

CIM have give you the right reply but something was forget...

You ask for POP... this is a special case... lynx/sarazen or stronghold top melee gear are not the best gear for defend or attack the pop... what you need for you hero is the ubba gear who have huge stat for all type of troop attacking and defending pop... along with gems defense, health, attack ( tourmaline, ruby, taafeite )... can use gems health/defense for your type of troop but only add 2%... for runes, it is better put these for your troop like "battle cry", +32% attack who are a lot better that the pop runes...

As shaman, you need raines the wanderer, with forteress gear, runes and gem similar to the hero

I don't think we should expect those kind of statements.

It doesn't follow that because you have seen no offers that there hasn't been any. 

I would say that the nature of the game suggests that those with any kind of advantage would use it against someone that doesn't

The cynic it me would suggest  that it serves you right for  not buying them , more of them ,5  months ago, and maybe the present situation is how the owners like it. 

I am not sure when I last saw an offer for them.

My Raine hasn't moved since arriving, I think he came as part of a package and with a small amount of charms