The reasons the handbooks don't say what's the ultimate best is because there is no ultimate best.
Most of things come down to playing style an ability, I for one find transmuter a much better specialisation than conjurer, but someone on these boards would rip my head off for saying that. Also I don't think you always have to ban evocation. Enchantment and Necromancy can be worse for some campaigns.
I don't even think the tiers are definite, sometimes a tier 2 class can be more useful than a tier 1 class, especially at low levels.
Heck, I recently ran a Sorcadin who dwarfed the Wizard in almost everything we did. Outperformed the rogue on damage, and was the general main healer. Mainly because the campaign setting heavily favored the set-up since books were apparently the most favored things to steal, disease and fear where plenty-full, and my sorcadin could laugh at that.
So, my point is, there is not way to make an ultimate best for each class.
Human Druid 10
Stats 25 point buy
8
8
14
10
18
9
Feats: Natural spell, Whatever else you want, I prefer focusing on summons, but focusing on changing shape can also be done.
You don't really need more with druid, which is why it is such a good class for beginners and experts alike.
If you can get to play with the druid domain (UA Pg 68), and grab transformation domain, mr. druid will go quite crazy.