Based on my testing most weapons (the notable exception under the current build being the AR line, with a lessor nod going to the shotgun line) don't show their true potential and value until you've really skilled into them. Running proto sniper rifles with top skills isn't the same as running a militia sniper rifle without the sniper specific skills to support it (nor should it be).

Militia weapons should be present and they should give you a feel for the nature of using the weapon. A militia Forge Gun should have some utility against a Militia HAV comparable to a Proto Forge vs a Proto HAV.
Learning basics of how a weapon shoots, zooms, reloads, fires. What movement is like with that weapon, etc.
Those are all key player UI elements to use of the weapon and there's really no reason why use of the AR or Shotgun should require fewer SP invested than use of an equivalent meta level Mass Driver or other niche weapon.

Introducing militia variants would certainly require some balance effort so that they're not either A)useless or B) a more viable option than the current Meta one version of the weapon. But I'm fully confident that CCP is capable of the iterations needed to fine tune that.

0.02 ISK
Cross

I'd like to try out the forge gun. but I don't want to skill in it just to find out I don't like it. every gun in the game should have a militia variation to encourage players to experiment with them and find awesome unique fits that match their play style. choosing the level in something is a big commitment (as it should be), so levelling in something you find out you hate is a huge waste. naturally the solution is to have militia gear that doesn't require any skills.

NOPE.
Not only no but hell no. I say this only because it sounds like you're suggesting this for launch, and that would be a terrible idea. As CCP has said many times, the more gear you can get unlimited quantities of with one purchase, the worse off the market is. I know everyone is constantly saying this game isn't EVE, but if you want to use a Forge Gun, you should have to skill for it. Same with any other higher level or Heavy weapon.

Militia gear =/= unlimited quantities.
I understand that cheap forge guns would be bad since vehicles are expensive, but it can have its power be severely reduced (like a militia forge gun can do half the damage of a standard). Even if that's still not acceptable, there is no reason why we shouldn't have militia anti-personnel weapons like laser rifles and mass drivers.

Virtually all of the infantry Militia gear has a BPO that you can buy that allows you unlimited usage of that asset.

Militia gear =/= unlimited quantities.
I understand that cheap forge guns would be bad since vehicles are expensive, but it can have its power be severely reduced (like a militia forge gun can do half the damage of a standard). Even if that's still not acceptable, there is no reason why we shouldn't have militia anti-personnel weapons like laser rifles and mass drivers.