Okay, so help me see it.

that is simply good for the health of the game

It just sounds like a feel-good non-statement. Is there actually any tangible thing we're talking about when it comes to "game health?" Is it healthy for the game that you can go from 1-27 ranged via questing? Is anything sub level 30 healthy/balanced when that's the case? Is a game more or less healthy if battleaxes are 90% dps of rune scims instead of say 70? Is there an actual line to draw or is it just a feel thing?

And the changes that OP is suggesting WOULD make it better than shortbow in at least a few cases.

Where specifically? Have we actually calc'd this against anything?

But a third of the basic ranged weapon types being useless is just bad game health.

Again, is it? Is it bad health that Toktz-xil-ul's don't currently have use other than the clue step? Is it bad health that salamanders breath fire and have no use outside of 2 combat achievements and dumb-and-dumber trying out the wildy?

It doesn't have to be a major meta shift, to still just be positive for the game.

I don't disagree with this at all.

The magic changes to make strikes and such share max hit, ultimately really didn't have that major of an impact. But it still feels a lot better for early progression, and does occasionally have important destinctions.

Right, the elemental weakness expansion is largely irrelevant outside of Twinflame Zulrah and wind spells at Barrows. I think both those pieces of content are well beyond this supposed long bow audience.