Imo this is on par with the 0.04% auto rifle buff.
I balancing that effectively changes nothing.
So..... Why do it if not to just make us weaker?
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IMO it's a buff in a way. You will never waste shots that don't have trench barrel now because you know you reapply after 3 shots. Lowers the DPS slightly but increases the damage for the whole duration (because you add multiple melees rather than one). Basically you have more control over the buff.