An arrow or bolt has no regard for the player it hits. Good player or bad, its the same. With melee whether you do damage or not does depend on the ability of the other player.
We have dodging, pointing a shield at someone, decision making (avoid the class or not, tactics etc). But it just doesn't compare to everything that goes on in melee. This is why ranged is cheap compared to melee and why they are given such low regard or respect. As well as this we have people who would never play M&B if it wasn't for the quality of the melee mechanics. People don't mind getting shot, but not if we have this many ranged that it doesnt feel like a melee orientated game
Add to this that often ranged builds can allow them to be very effective in melee (especially xbows) and you have players that can have the best of both worlds. Someone will beat you in melee? Shoot him. Someone didn't die yet and got in melee ranged? Delay him with manual blocks while retreating to team mates or kill him yourself.