As a word of introduction I'd like to tell you a few things. I'm a proud member of cRPG community since 2010, but I get active on forums (ussualy by eading only) at 2011. I playing EU servers only and I really want to enhance that this community is the greatest that I expierienced. That's topic is my view for ranged and melee, which is the biggest matter here, and finally I found some self-denial to write this topic (I'm one of the laziest persons on Earth :/), I was keeping that in mind for a... years or so.
To begin with (again :3) when I was playing cRPG I had some serious breaks, like two months, you know when I got on something - new game, hobby; but I think it'll let me discuss about the main matter.
I've a melee fighter for a long time, longer than archer or xbowman and horseman put all tougether, esspecialy with 2h or polearms. I found myself very happy with all encounters during the battle, little duels and the biggest satisfaction brought me this little wins upon my enemies, when I could fight-oof or kill 2-4 guys attacking me at once, killing admitted players on fight 1 vs 1. That was the essence of playing. In a meanwhile I was respecing (since feature have been realeased) very often, like 10-20 times during the generation (current 3rd gen) incorporating in many characters, ofcourse ranged too. Mostly I was playing archer, happy from each performed headshot and happy with every mace-kill (15-24 and mace when it was worth it ;)), or with rus bow when the "slot-patch" came. Through that months of playing I had a final look on this.
Melee: On battles and sieges (main gametypes) the essence isn't the blocking skills, it become about, the smartest player who can backstab someone well, or deal the final hit during "the gank", the timing, for some chambering. But to be honest after hours of playing this dose of beeing smart is patheticly low, it doesn't bring anymore satisfaction, it became mechanical. It's not the skill, it's just who have better ping, longer weapon, more teammates around him, knows the map better. I know this is a simulator of battleground where the skill is beeing stealth, smart (but in this game you don't really need it a lot, to be effective...), but the manual skills, of blocking, tricking your opponent in a fair fight (I mean stading in front of yourselves, the trick like a feint), it's been more and more about ganking and backstabbing. And that's why I found archery more satysfying.
Ranged: Some people say that playing archer is easy, mabye it's but still it's more challenging for me than melee, the first reason is... Aiming. it's bring you a lot of "freedom" (I don't know how to call it), more ways to fail or succed, more depends on your skills (or mouse). As pure archer it's very hard to fight in melee, esspecialy more than just blocking. Playing archer also brings more realistic feelings, like on real battleground. Melee vs ranged relations are more fair and realistic than melee vs melee. That should be changed.
For the final conclusion. I'd like to see more duel servers or more duel-gametypes (no idea yet what could that be). But the change can't be done with mechanics, it depends on peoples will, so I'd like to see more people on only melee servers or duel to find the satisfaction on the gameplay. I know that I can't express myself well, nut I hope you'll the "spirit" of this opinion.
Cheers.