I think you're right. It took me quite a while to be as good with a Sniper Rifle as I am now. I'm not gonna disagree that the aim assist is giving me an extra nudge, but even when I first got my 1kys--and I've been using it since like October or November--I wasn't getting kills with it the way I am now. I couldn't snipe as well under pressure, my aim was inconsistent and so on. I can tell that I'm much better now than I was before because I've noticed the gradual increase in my consistency over time. Sure scrubs can pick up a 1kys and get a few kills on simpleton snipe lanes, but catch them under pressure. Catch them trying to trade with somebody better. Catch them trying to quick scope. There's a difference between actually being skilled with a sniper rifle and just knowing how to camp an easy lane like the kindergarten level lanes of Pantheon for example. Same thing goes for shotguns. Everybody can pick them up, but when you see a truly skilled player with a shotgun, it does show. It's harder to notice though because no matter what people say about sniper rifles, shotguns are easier to use. They support a run&gun style that's much easier to use. One and done around any corner. The game has very CQC friendly maps, so using a shotgun is almost encouraged majority of the time. It's an easier way to play for most people, especially for low skill level players that have pretty terrible gun skill. Shotguns take away a lot of the challenge because you can run people down before they kill you, and in CQC situations you pretty much will have the edge 90% of the time against people using primaries and sniper rifles because you can just slide in and get the kill. Because the style of play rewarded low skill level players much more consistently then sniper rifles ever have and ever will even after all the shotgun nerfs, I course it took a hit.

I completely agree. The only way I ever use a sniper rifle now is by using a run and gun style like kraftyy. (I assume you know who that is? If not go check him out on twitch, the guys and insane sniper.)

I don't know Krafty actually. Lol I do know Hovey though. I don't really spend a lot of time watching footage of good players. Half the players I know are from word of mouth or random events where they may have been a participant. The only player I actually follow--and very rarely watch off of YouTube for the sake of gameplay content--is Ms5000watts. I'll check out this Krafty fellow though.

He does double trials carries every Friday to Monday. He'll probably be streaming at about 12 central.