Been using bow since the start. As a backup, I also have 1h/shield build. I even use my bow on foes closing in for melee. Get your archery and sneak perks up. Use sneak whenever possible with the bow. you will eventually get tons of one shot kills. for added damage and fun, i poison the first shot as well. plus i love hunting. you can also take along a melee companion if you want to play sniper.

Right you are man. Again, archery plus sneak has helped me to get past some pretty powerful mages that would normally make mincemeat of me in close range combat.

No. Get some archery perks and use them with sneak. Bows are NOT useless AT ALL.