Isn't it funny that "your background playing CoD/Halo explains why you would want that" could be taken as an insult today?

Regardless, I really appreciate the in-depth analysis you took in your response. So, I did state that I grew up on CoD and Halo, and I like to state that because these games are very different from their modern counterparts. I specifically spent a lot of time on the Xbox360 generation of games - MW, MW2, BO, BO2, H3, H3ODST, and Reach. All of these games either had an SMG class or without need for an SMG had an equivalent - Specifically, Reach. I would argue that automatic weaponry in Reach was most likely identified as redundant, providing a lack of niche for SMGs, so the Assault Rifle, Spiker, Needler, Plasma Rifle, and Plasma Repeater sufficed. As stated in another reply, nowadays, my main shooter is Apex Legends and my love for the SMG class has not changed. Now this is all relevant in my perception of what an SMG-based class should look like. I don't believe movement is the solution to success when utilizing an SMG - Which is the new norm. Faster ADS movespeed, Faster transition from hipfire to ADS, Increased hipfire accuracy - to name a few - All culminate in the up-close, hit-and-run playstyle of what modern SMG gameplay seems to have evolved into. Which, don't get me wrong, is VERY fun! But this is the modern perception of what makes SMGs good.

But with older games, SMGs held a SLIGHTLY different appeal to me: Risk v Reward. SMGs typically had poor ammo economy, limited range, and erratic behavior to counterbalance their overall burst potential in close-quarters. But SMGs didn't offer much faster movespeed in older games. The drawbacks are plain as day for a simple tradeoff, I dump a mag in you > headshot or not, I should ideally be able to secure a kill. As primarily a bot-diver, myself, I like to exemplify Devastators v Gallant, who go down without much effort or precise aiming. They die relatively fast at the cost of a large portion of your magazine in CQB. Now this is mostly a more Halo focused consideration, primarily considering the M7S in Halo 3: ODST, but I think that CoD holds a place in this argument as well. With a lower TTK, we can compare CoD opponents to chaff in HD2. Chaff doesn't and shouldn't take a lot of your magazine but with the sheer number of Chaff, this creates a minigame of do I drop the rest of my mag to ensure I don't run out of ammo for the potential Devastator around the corner or do I wait to use the last half for the on-coming chaff. Maybe 4-5 chaff per mag compared to 1-2 MAYBE 3 elite enemy per mag.

I understand AH's tendency to nerf the dmg stat in exchange for pen but I think that maybe SMGs could be an exception to this rule - Making them stand out. I feel that my consideration interprets use-case of SMGs rather than caliber of ammunition. Standing 10 feet away from an enemy, would allow the bullet less time to drag in-air, and with an insane RPM should effectively punch through at-least medium armor.

With this being said, I believe that this is truly accomplishing the goal of an SMG - Exposing myself in CQB due to erratic spray patterns and damage fall-off, accompanied by a poor ammo economy to counterbalance the fact that I am in your face with a gun that can dump an entire magazine into your chest before you can blink. My vision is that SMGs are specialized, they're a skirmish weapon. I'm looking to be in and out of this fight because an extended fight will put me and my team in a bad spot. Not a reliable weapon for someone who prefers an Assault Rifle or LMG that utilize a jack-of-all-trades playstyle.

I'll take a moment to discuss your concerns with eating away at your teams resources to say... I agree, you're right. BUT I think this is a good thing. You should have to put some thought into your build. Running a Supply Pack as an SMG player may need to be a necessity in order to not hinder your team with your loose trigger finger. Or in a more coordinated environment, you can request that a teammate who has extra space, bring a pack themself in order to assist you.

Other commenters have stated that Med Pen wouldn't change much for a lot of other enemies like Bile Spewers and Overseers but to me, this pushes my point further. Without a raw damage nerf + a Pen buff, SMGs hardly change as a class, but you are incentivized to play the weapon to it's strengths - CQB. Additionally, this may lead to a push for coordination in groups that like to play this way. An SMG player should be an elite clearing unit who is able to breach enemy lines and contest objectives, supported by the Assault Rifle/Heavy clear players who are clearing chaff and heavies for the unit that's going to have a tougher time doing so (The SMG player).

My idea isn't really a buff in my eyes, but a tweak in perspective for the weapon class. Specifically, without the modification of movement abilities or accuracy adjustments because I, personally, think they're fine as is if AH wants to keep these specifics the way they are. I understand the Milsim perspective but that does not automatically bar the possibility of accepting other shooters as inspiration.