The sniper really isn't as underpowered as everyone is making it out to be...
The reason why the shotgun has become so popular, and the sniper suddenly seems so weak is that most AC maps don't have any larger, open areas. Almost all combat in AC is close combat. There are a few places where the longer range weapons have a clear advantage (take a look at the open area in front of the RVSF base in ac_depot). If more maps would be made with open areas (and I don't mean ridiculous stuff like Twin Towers), then there would be less complaint about the "underpowered" sniper.
The reason why the shotgun has become so popular, and the sniper suddenly seems so weak is that most AC maps don't have any larger, open areas. Almost all combat in AC is close combat. There are a few places where the longer range weapons have a clear advantage (take a look at the open area in front of the RVSF base in ac_depot). If more maps would be made with open areas (and I don't mean ridiculous stuff like Twin Towers), then there would be less complaint about the "underpowered" sniper.