So the last of these posts generated a fair amount of controversy, but the overwhelming opinion seemed to be that it wasn't the heavy suits themselves that were OP, but the fact that the HMG wasn't getting nerfed along with the rifles. I would like to present a number of arguments as to why the HMG should not have been nerfed first and foremost.

1. The HMG is supposed to dominate CQC. You'll notice that the shotguns and nova knives aren't getting nerfed either. Why is this? Because they, like the HMG, have a very specific purpose and very limited range within which the function. HMG will still struggle to kill a shotgun scout within 10 meters and if knova knifed from behind, a heavy will die with one charged hit. There are counters to the HMG, including outranging it, or getting in very close and out maneuvering it. And yet it remains incredibly effective in it's one, albeit limited role.

2. The HMG's reticle is extremely limiting. Unlike other weapons, the HMG loses a lot of effectiveness if it is used on an enemy behind partial cover, or one at a distance. For this reason the HMG is even more range limited than other weapons, with exponential fall off even within its effective range. In addition, the limiting factor of partial cover offers an easy counter. If you let a heavy apply full damage on your more nimble assault suit it's your own damn fault.

3. Previously the other rifles were much more powerful than the HMG. The pre-nerf combat rifle had a 635 DPS, making it more powerful than the HMG WITH DOUBLE IT'S EFFECTIVE RANGE. This is just bad game design. The new stats give it 540 dps, still defeating the HMG outside of 25m or with cover factored in, but the combat rifle isn't inherently better than the HMG. As for the other rifles, the scrambler rifle and rail rifles are obviously not supposed to function ideally within the HMG's optimal but both still have a reasonably high DPS. The blaster rifle obviously shouldn't have been nerfed but that is a moot point.

Overall, HMG will do exactly what it is supposed to do in 1.8 and nothing more, while the rifle changes make the rifles effective within their own optimal ranges without dominating HMG territory. There are a huge number of counters to the HMG. Moreover an HMG heavy will dominate close quarters but it's incredibly specific ideal range will prevent it from being FOTM.

You can't call in an LAV from anywhere. You obviously haven't used a heavy long enough to know how limited your movement speed is. You make it sound like can just use an LAV to go running around in close quarters. They're only used on open fields. And you certainly can't call them atop most buildings. The LAV is not the substitute for running around a corner chasing someone.

Most medium frame users who haven't used a heavy long enough are gonna find out places they used to tread are now 10 times harder to get to. Try hopping around mountain tops in a heavy. Lol.