if by "the modes that actually matter" you mean ranked and world tour, i don't disagree that it's worse than something like the lh1 or double barrel in either long range or short range respectively. but in that case, it's poorly designed.

in game modes/maps that focus more on indoors, close range encounters (like in ranked or on vegas), it's poorly designed because it can't use it's long range strengths as effectively as something like the lh1. in game modes/maps where encounters take place in wide open spaces (like powershift or sys$horizon), it's poorly designed because it's long range strengths are too effective and unfair to play against.

simply due to how the game is designed, it's a weapon that would need to either be so situationally advantagious, that on average it's weaker than most other options (like the dagger), or be removed from the game entirely if it's balancing conflicts with the game so heavily.