Custom Stats and attack speed

So I had an interesting discussion with carefulbite and I believe I am thoroughly confused... Does base agility add attack speed or simply armor? This came upon in a discussion of agility stacking on slithery so if agility does not actually add attack speed there wouldnt be any real benefit of even having agility wouldnt armor/shield just be a better route to go instead of investing initial points into agility?

To elaborate on what I was saying I think your heroes starting attack speeds are already pre-determined. Meaning dark elf attacks at 16%, Demon Hunter at 30% etc... Your stat gains will give you attack speed and your tomes + items will give you attack speed but stacking agility in full custom mode won't make you attack any faster. In other words custom stats is much like bonus attributes in that sense.

So Far either fast moving casters or Str seems to be the way to go Agi seems weaker in full custom.

To clarify; base agility does indeed add .5% per point; and when full custom mode is enabled, your starting attack speed is set to 0%. Every point of starting agility does increase your starting attack speed.

On agility, I really like making a balanced stat storm panda with highish movement speed. Works well. I feel ranged really benefits from this mode more than melee; in terms of agility. It allows you to go more glass-cannon style builds if you would like. Overall though, I think balanced is the safest way to go with agility in this mode; while STR and INT can more strongly focus on their main stats. Agi itemization is the strongest of the 3 though; and quickly makes up for it.

So it does tested it in solo play. I thought that perhaps the custom stats were exactly the same as BYO in 2.1.