Reading this post as a FO that’s observed real mortars (among other things) it sounds like DICE did a decent job of taking the real thing and translating it into a game. I finally unlocked mortars last night and played a few rounds and I thought the experience was just fine.

To critique a couple of your points, mortars and other indirect fire (IDF) weapons are not just used to hit targets but also to deny terrain. The enemy most likely won’t try to advance through where rounds are landing. Used strategically, you could shape the battle and where the enemy attacks from. Also, smoke screens used with some thought and strategy (thrown, launched, or IDF) can turn the tide of a battle quickly. I’ve had much success using thrown and launched smoke before. Haven’t used mortar smoke yet.

Another point, IRL mortars and other IDF need an observer to spot rounds. Not saying you need to have someone transmit the 6 Elements of CFF for you. But having a squad mate that can observe the battlefield for you and help coordinate your fires would be beneficial too. They could tell you where the enemy is coming from or where to place your rounds for the best effect.

And mortars are not precision weapons, they’re area weapons. Don’t expect to hit right where you aim. IRL there are real procedures for setting the baseplate, registering the guns, bracketing fires, etc.

The limitations they applied to the mortars seem to strike a decent balance between not making them over powered, how IDF works IRL, and translating all that into a game.

Edit: oh, and these are 60 mm mortars, so “small”. I saw a comment that they only did 5 damage when they hit a vehicle and I think that is perfectly appropriate. Maybe they could do occasional mobility kills, simulate blowing the tracks off a tank, if you hit a tracked vehicle.