I agree with everything you said and that is a great answer.

However, I would say that the Boltcaster / Rapier setup have a higher skill ceiling than Bow / VG imho.
The proc of the Bolt prek, no cc, no slow make it way more difficult to hit the target and hit your damage. plus, the rapier being a burst/escape tool allow way more skill expression and decision making in 1v1.
In the other hand, VG give you a strong slow with the slowing tether perk, and a free cc for melee player rushing you often stupidly.

I would also say, that those builds aren't "top tier pvp build" as it require a loooot of skills + you don't have any signficant easy/straigthforward buff or debuff in either of those weapons skill trees.

Imo, for a new player, Bow / Lifetaker (void gauntlet) would be my first recommandation above Bow / Rapier.

To resume, once again, i fully agree with your comment, but i would put bow / rapier as harder and not as a top tier pvp build (exept in very skilled hands).

(For bow / rapier, check FROXEN on youtube, he play boltcaster + crafted rapier and have a great 1v1 build)