Auto rifles will never make competetive play. Too easy to use and everyone would use them. They should be slightly weaker but not weak Enough to stop everyone using them. Way it should work is if someone using thorn misses their shot then an auto rifle hitting all shots should win. However even then autos are still strong enough. Comparing a gun like husk of the pit to hawkmoon shows how unbalanced some guns are. There is no good place to use husk of pit and little use for necrochasm. At least no land beyond has the POTENTIAL to 1 shot. Even if it is hard to use. Though it could use a pve buff. Auto rifles should be almost number 1 choice for close range but even then they are no match for hand cannons. In crucible weapons are used for Auto rifles. Easy to use but weak power. No chance for competitive play. Scout rifles. They are not bad with a skilled user but maps don't support them. Shouldn't be buffed or nerfed. They are good at what they do Hand cannons. Relatively easy to use and extremely strong. Pulse rifles. Decent at everything and pulse rifles like red death are strong. Want to pull off as many headshots as possible with recoil control. Also easy to use.

I still see autos all over crucible. I disagree with your take on HC though. Someone using a cannon is more likely to go for precision shots vs the auto user. So missing one shot when they are all crits shouldn't mean losing a close range duel. An auto rifle and pulse rifle user begins with upper body and allows the recoil of the weapon to creep up to crits. Otherwise they would be missing frequently.