I've realized that my preferred weapons on all factions aren't automatics.

>bugs
Punisher, Eruptor

>bots
Amendment, Deadeye

>squids
Deadeye, Punisher Plasma

The only time I enjoy automatic weapons are with the Stalwart and MMG, so I think the salient issue with ARs, SMGs, and other automatic primaries is the amount of ammo you get. Sure, on the surface, you're carrying more total damage than most other weapons, but how much of it is lost to shits whiffing from sway and recoil? If you're supposed to use controlled bursts, why not just use a weapon that gets its full DPS out in that same kind of controlled way, like my preferred weapons?

I love the Stalwart/MMG because I can just go Rambo with them thanks to the big ammo pool, and that should be the benefits of ARs/SMGs as well, I think.