dude, i use smg as a primary [and unless you wanna count spammimg grenades as a sidearm, i dont use one] and i'm doing just fine. learn to use it, learn to love it.

i wouldn't mind the buff tho, but this would just make it op

It seems you are the one that clearly has not used an SMG or understands their role
Rapid fire, large clip size, generous coverage within its range, a damage type that tears up armor like no ones business

The SMG is clearly a sidearm meant to deal a finishing blow on an enemy after your primary has run dry/is not at optimal range/is weak against armor
I run the basic Assault - Medic set up when Im just playing to gather more ISK and I have to tell you so many of kills play out the same way, using the AR to eat up the enemies shield and then swapping over to the SMG for the finishing blows
Hell Ive gone toe to toe with heavies playing that way and won since the SMG cuts through armor like butter and you say they do little damage

BTW: Got my Ishukone today, so be afraid. Very afraid.

You answered your own question.
These are sidearms.
SIDEARMS.
They're not meant to be your primary weapon system.

Then why can you put sidearms in a light weapon slot, and why are dual flaylocks on a Minmatar assault or dual SMGs on a scout so godlike?

FWIW they removed the (rather large) headshot damage bonus with the scrambler pistols at some point in a stealth nerf. I believe it was when uprising launched. Could've been 1.1.

It used to be 450% damage out to 18m for a headshot. Now it's 110% bonus (if memory serves).

Means I can't spec into assault scrambler pistols and dual wield them very easily anymore. = /

Apparenlty the Flaylock is the only sidearm that's supposed to be used as a real weapon.

Either way though, when specc'd into smg's are VERY dangerous weapons. Insane fire rate means if you get the damage up (and the enemies' shields down) you'll kill just about anyone.

I (may end up) go(ing) Amarr assault, AScR and SMG... with the complex damage mods being for the smg. Because they rock the socks.

@Asher Night - You're an angry one aren't you? No need to be so hostile towards people having a discussion.

At the end of the day the SMG and the pistol are both sidearms. Yes, they can be mained but unless you're really good with them you're not going to get anywhere near the same kill count as light weapons. If you want them to be able to stand up against light weapons like the AR, they're going to need to be upgraded to light weapon fitting requirements (i.e. CPU and PG).

1) It really doesn't matter what you think the SMG should be like compared to other games or real life; it's not designed to be like that in this game. It is what it is and 2 used in a certain way and in the right hands, it's a great weapon that doesn't need changing.

It also makes sense that a single shot pistol should have a longer effective range than a fully automatic weapon with an extreme rate of fire. I look forward to your apparently well thought out definitive post on this matter.

It's how it's supposed to be because it is defined as a sidearm in this game. Nothing says it better than that. It's a sidearm, which means it is not supposed to be as effective as a light weapon but uses up less CPU/PG and can be carried alongside any other weapon. In other games and real life the SMG might be as you describe but that is irrelevant to dust because CCP have made SMGs a different kind of weapon.

And lots and lots of people use the SMG as a sidearm because it is great as a weapon to switch to in a hurry when your main needs reloading. All those weapons you've listed are light or heavy weapons and have far greater CPU/PG usage than the SMG and can't be fitted in a sidearm slot, so it's not a valid comparison. I'll say again, if you want the SMG to compete with light/heavy weapons, you're going to have to increase everything, including the CPU/PG.

It would be a problem if you were using it as intended and it didn't perform but that's not the case. As I stated previously, I use the SMG and pistol exclusively and do very well with them.

Finally, I'm glad you kicked butt with the SMG in MAG but keep in mind that this is not MAG and is a completely separate game with it's own intricacies and attributes.

You STILL did not tell me what you are basing your opinion off of. I'm sure as well as I did in MAG, you've never done anything like that ever. In every FPS I have at least a 2 to 1 KDR, except Dust. Resistance 1, Resistance 2, Resistance 3, two accounts on MAG (actually three but I stopped using the very first one), Battlefield 3 - yeah, I seriously doubt the problem is with me.

The SMG needs to sit somewhere between the AR and the pistol. You mentioned sidearms, but what you didn't mention is how every sidearm stomps the SMG as it is. I am a scout in every game, so if I can't use the SMG, I'll use wither the pistol or knife. Since it takes so long to get skills in this game, I'm maining the knife, and I have to say, I can't remember a single scout that got the best of me with the SMG --- and I am bringing a knife to a gunfight.

I'm fine with the SMG not being the best at anything, but right now it's not even good at anything. I love FPS's Ilove the scout class, I always play it, and I can honestly say, the scout class in this game takes way more effort to pull off than any other FPS I have ever played in my life. I am also calling into question what you consider "quite well". If you don't have a KDR of at least 2 to 1, then your opinions just aren't as valid. Sorry, that's just how it is. Once you prove you can take on 2 people, then you opinion will be worth hearing on making weapon decisions. Do you have a 2 to 1 KDR and don't drive vehicles?

As many has stated, the smg is good at close range, but it has to be close. The range on that thing sucks. It used to be able to be have okay range with the old sharpshooting, but now that's in the past. All of the sidearms have their strong points, but they tend to be very situational and you have to create that situation.

I don't know what game you've been playing but I still get 450% headshot damage with my scrambler and other people have been saying the same. That wasn't changed at all ever.