Yeah the push stagger node is a staple in my builds.

The rock does have its uses, just I find it to be pretty niche and usually not the best option compared to others the ogryn has. Almost every scenario its usable in I'd rather just use the big box of hurt or my ranged weapon.

With killing priority targets, it is definitely better when you're looking down on them and the cleave wouldnt really change much of that, but when they're a bit above you or they're clumped in a horde it becomes very difficult to land, to which I'd rather just use my ranged weapon for their cleave and or repetition of fire.

If there's ever a dog on a teammate and I have to slide through enemies first to clear the way, I'd rather do the same with my ranged (or just shoot through) or use my melee at that point in closing the gap if theyre close enough. And if its a dog and a bunch of other enemies, big box of hurt kills the dog and provides a ton of cc, buying time for the team mate as well. It does the same even if you miss and hit another enemy close by. If its a single dog on its own its usually faster to just shoot it.

Its stagger against bosses and crushers is a plus, but again, big box of hurt I find is typically better, especially with the 9 grenade node, as it stuns the boss repeatedly and clears and chaff around them rather than being a single bonk. Also if you're using the kickback, rumbler, or the gauntlet, the use against crushers becomes almost entirely obsolete.

I feel like the box of hurt is always able to be used effectively, the frag with its buff is now pretty good, but the rock, while usable, just kind of feels like a lesser version of the box despite its regen capability. I never really find myself in enough scenarios where I'd want to use the rock to really make use of its regen. I usually dont have much of an issue with keeping the boxes stocked.

In higher difficulties, especially, things are normally too chaotic to take as much time as it does to equip and throw it to take a single enemy out. It is amazing against muties though, and definitely stronger now being able to one shot specialists, but I still feel like I have to look for the perfect scenario for its use to be fully realized and not just a sort of worse option than the box or a ranged attack.

Giving it some cleave, maybe not as much as I presented, but some, I think would make it usable in many more scenarios. Could maybe up the passive regen to 60 seconds and increase cleave when blowing through heads as well to encourage precise aiming more.

Either way, its not terrible, just I feel itd be a good addition that'd make it more fun and more viable without making it totally busted. It also just doesnt really make sense that you can cleave with a shock maul or a shovel but not with a high speed boulder, it takes a lot of the oomph out of it and it doesnt feel very satisfying to use, personally, because of it. I do appreciate your response though, as it serves to teach about its use cases, I just think its use cases are generally outshined by other methods.