-Great sustain from rage and then tunneling heal, supplemented later with some LS.
-No fear of ganks, just tunnel away, leave tunnels everywhere in their jungle as wards or escape paths
-Ability to pressure other lanes/objectives, just leave a tunnel somewhere near dragon or bot lane, ult in there for teamfights, leave tunnels at top lane so you can help with objectives and then teleport back top.
Built her tanky top (just to outsustain enemies/prep for late) and only had trouble with Teemo so far.
Rek is a decent top laner. I've never seen her win lane, and I've never lost a game to a Rek top (I've been playing her jungle since she came out in Team Builder, haven't taken her into ranked yet). I'm not saying it isn't possible, nor that she isn't good there - I just think it's less optimal. I'm sure I'll get Rekt (harharhar) by a lake'sai at some point. But I main jungle, and I love her there.
I think she definitely would be viable top lane, to be fair. I feel like her ult is sort of a waste there unless you're winning hard enough that you can sneak into their jungle and make portals, however, or have tele. She does have decent sustain. However, there's a few with similar sustain that would simply bully you out of lane, or under tower so that wouldn't be possible. I would advise care in picking her, things like trynda, mao that have free sustain would make her have to work harder to use those advantages.
-T
Her early game leaves her too vulnerable to most meta top laners currently. She has great late game kit, but early game isn't a good place for her to duel someone. Anyone with a lvl 2 spike can and will most likely kill her easily. Unless you have w and e for lvl 2, which really minimizes your out put in a duel, you basically have no escape.
