The frame data for 2C is misleading; it starts and ends quickly, so if used alone, gives +1 on block. However, in the grand scheme of gatlings, it keeps you stunned less long than his other moves like 5C or 5D, and is limited in what it can gatling to, and limited to slow gatlings at that. That's why if you IB his 2C, Your 5B is almost free. I've done it a LOT, it works far more than it fails. Worst case is usually a trade, which is out of pressure.
Also, Dead spike can't really be considered a block string. 5B is your answer for it, and it works quite reliably. :]