Drawn to melee.

[Daldaen]

Uhh I'd say rangers are 60% of Rogues and 80% of Monks? Just off the top of my head numbers. Feel free to correct me people (this is ignoring any DDs or procs they do, so shift them up 5% when they can land those).

A few reasons. Primarily, they have a 40% EXP penalty (this will be removed in about 3-4 months). Secondly people here tend to min max obsessively. Rangers are a great class because they can fill in. DPS as needed, tank when real tank needs 5 min AFK (Rangers tank great on most group content when geared properly), root CC or Harmony pull outdoors, snare to prevent runners, heal as needed, throw DS on tank for extra DPS - etc. the problem with all of these roles, is someone else can do them "better". Which means in a group of 6, you will have a better backup healer or you'll have CC or a rogue to DPS.

Rangers shine in groups of 3-4 players because they can use all of their utility. Less so in groups of 6 (though they are far from useless in a group of 6... A group is far more likely to opt for a Rogue if they need DPS for that last slot or a Monk if they need a puller for that last slot, over the ranger).

If you have a static group of friends or guildmates who you will level with this is a non-issue though. Most of their issue is people's perception of them.