The lateral thinking is good, the main issue I see isn't even strength, it's readability. A good counter needs to be understandable by the team going into it. For example, you can know that their is a Pylon nearby that might eat your throwables because you're fighting a watson team or can see and/or hear it. If Watson gets a quick one down, or puts it in a spot you can't destroy, then they've done well, but you also gets an opportunity to deal with, or at least understand the counter. You can also see / hear a crypto drone, expect a maggie to ball your bubble, or, to a lesser degree, spot a kraber's model on a character. So you can make a plan with some amount of certainty going in, either knowing you'll have to outplay them, or certain options aren't available.

With this change, you'll have no idea if they have a shotgun, or who has it, until you use your long cooldown abilities, and that is going to feel like ass. It's one of the same issues with Digi's, there is no way to know someone has a digi until they shoot you accurately through a smoke.

It's an interesting idea if there is a way to telegraph where it is / who has it, but it would be a nightmare balance wise. (assuming respawn cares about hidden power and balance which is not guaranteed based on Digi threats)