The longer you hold down the trigger with a laser rifle, the more damage it does. So if you can keep your crosshair on an enemy and keep firing, you'll score an easy kill or at least get him very low on health. Plus it reaches way father than an assault rifle.

People claim it's OP, but I think not. If a person is smart he simply finds the nearest cover and goes another way to avoid the laser rifle or even *gasp* get up close and shoot him in the face.

LR is probably one of the best anti heavy weapons out there. you can burn through heavies armour quite quickly if your good with it and you can out range the HMG by a ridiculous amount if your smart

I've also seen some guys try to run as a squad support sniper, moving with the unit and taking out targets at range. While the laser rifle is poor at close range, it's often better then using a sniper rifle that close and there is no scope sway while moving making you less vulnerable.

So as a long range squad support weapon the laser rifle often does well too. And like previously mentioned, it melts heavies :D