I seem to be seeing a ton more bullet hose toting, hip firing, spray and pray kids these days. Is this because people know the gun is a bit better, or am I just being killed more often by the same people who I used to drop easily? Maybe it's just low ranked people using one of the few guns at their disposal, but sweet Jesus I feel like every enemy is spraying 100 round clips at me at once sometimes.

More people use it but I don't see it as a problem, the weapon is now useful. The hugest disadvantage is no silencer so I think that makes it useful.

I die more from Grenades and random energy drains than anything else.

yea random energy drains are ridiculous. Stair Cases, trash on the ground, and bumping into teammates, are apparently the most dangerous thing in the game.