Flinch, handling, and scopes aren't issues- you just have to adapt to those. With forsaken, I've switched to using an even lower handling sniper, the gambit one. The rolls matter a lot, including the scope. Lower zoom scopes tend to have higher handling anyway. Flinch, you just have to get better at countering, plus there are perks and mods that help with it. As for aim assist/hitbox- git gud. I've been maining snipers since D1Y1, there's never really been a need to make sniping easier in this regard. It takes practice- use the same gun, same roll. It will function the same way every time and you'll get used to using it- you'll never have an issue with feeling like that shot should have hit once you get used to it. There are plenty of perks and mods to help if you don't feel the gun performs as consistently as you'd like. First, find a base gun you like, then look for perks to help. Typically higher RoF frames have higher handling. Increased range typically includes more aim assist to help keep your aim more consistent at long range. Firmly Planted is one of my favorite sniper perks currently, but you have to adapt to it. Crouching isn't typically a part of your playstyle, but I've been pairing it with knucklehead radar- helps increase my awareness and lets me use my sniper more often. Plus, when crouched, the radar is better, which encourages me to use crouch more. I've found it makes my sniping more consistent since incorporating it into my playstyle- Firmly Planted is actually a really solid perk. There's also handling/range masterworks I believe, as well as mods (including one for increased aim assist). Find the combination that works for you, and practice with it. As for damage- I completely agree. It needs to be increased. I'm not looking for a one-hit body, but I should be able to kill a super with a headshot. Shotguns seem to shut down supers all the time, but snipers rarely do. Not even the highest impact (not including heavies) can kill supers in one shot. In D1, it was easier to hit supers and still killed them- it's more difficult now to hit them, but far less rewarding. The damage should be increased to allow shotguns to not be only viable counter. One thing you didn't mention was the ammo economy- it really heavily favors shotguns and fusions over snipers. If shoot-to-loot returned, it might be more viable, but I doubt it would. As is, snipers generally lose the ammo from an enemy they kill due to the distance they'll have to cover to get that ammo- someone else will pick it up first or you'll have to battle someone in close quarters for it, typically a shotgunner. And then, you get a single shot. If you miss, the sniper is pointless. Hit a body? Guess you're out of luck unless you're using another mid/long range weapon, but you're screwed up close. The only way a sniper can have a viable ammo situation is to use the scavenger perk so you get extra ammo when you CAN pick it up. Otherwise the sniper just feels incredibly situational, whereas shotties and fusions always feel like they are an option since getting a kill almost guarantees ammo for another kill. All in all, the only things I'd change are to improve damage and ammo economy changes. Shotguns might need some changes, but I think the biggest issue is just in the map designs favoring shotguns. I think some favoritism towards snipers would go a ways towards evening the playing field. Damage and ammo probably would do the most overall IMO. Anything else might make them too strong. Edit: Holy wall of text, batman!