What does it tell us if one class is being played more than another class?
a) Does Class A which is being played more than class B, makes you enjoy the game more?
b) Does Class B suck more than Class A so it isn't played as much?
c) Is Class A being played more because it's easier, if at least not more enjoyable?
d) Does Class B suck itself already so it's not worth at all being played?
e) Is there no Class C that is nearly as good as Class A and B?
f) Do people force themselves to play Class A even though they would love playing Class B?
g) If Class B doesn't such more than Class A, though more people play Class A; does it mean that Class A is simply stronger? Balance needed?
h) Why am I writing down points like this, even though the topic and solution is clear, and xbow needs a honest nerf?
Anyway, why archery has gone through a lot more nerfs than xbow during the last years, it still seems to be far more enjoyable. However as archer you're usually forced to put all your points into ranged skills as putting some wpf and skill points into 1h/2h wpf and PS isn't really worth it while weakening yourself at ranged.
Xbow players put 2/3 of their wpf in xbow, rest into melee wpf and they are able to put their skill points in PS/IF if they want to, so in the end most have a typical melee build (tho most go for more agility to get more wpf). They grab a mace which they can easily swing with 5 PS and 100 wpf and deal good dmg while being deadly on range as well while Archers usually struggle at level 30 to get such a good build with both melee and ranged abilities to deal dmg with both.
An Archer could do 18/18 as well, with 6 PS, 6 WM but he will lack important wpf. A 18/21 build is far better in that case on level 30, while an xbow can easily go 15/24 on level 30 which gives him 5 PS and 8 WM.
The amount of any class is not the real problem as it would be real bullshit to restrict the amount of a certain class. The more important step we should take, is buffing melee classes (ie. shielders who seem to have a hard time engaging ranged).