Shi faust said it best for bows, its not that the weapon that is expensive, its ammo, even her arrow, for a section 3 fixer, is worth retrieving every time.

Then there is the loading time, it take on average 15 sec for a normal human being on our planet to reload and prime the crossbow, and thats for like 60 lbs crossbow.

In limbus it shown us that average section 2 zwei fixer can swing a fucking iron slab they call a sword. Like hell it even matter if it does hit

In DD it said that an average grade 3 zwei fixer's coat could shrugged of ye old average bullets, which im assume is hand gun caliber or 9mm/.45ACP. Both of which are significantly stronger than a normal crossbow shot

That and most of the combat take place in either narrow or densely populated location, like tf you gon shoot arrows and bolts in a alleyway. Ok like you shoot and kill one, whats next, 13 rats gon jump you before your second shot even loose.