I use Ranger as my main character/class and yea, it is definitely a pretty strong class, and being able to attack at a safe distance is a definite bonus (especially with hectic Urgent Quests like Fals Arms) . Different classes excel at different types of combat. If you want long range combat the Ranger is arguably the better choice. Gunner, despite relying on "ranged" weapons, is meant as more of a front-lines class focusing on mobility rather than distance to keep you out of harms way. Braver offers good long-range damage with the Bow, and has a Photon Art that can deal some HEAVY single-target damage but takes a while to charge. For single-target damage, Braver's the way to go I'd say, while Ranger is a bit better at crowd control because of its faster rate of fire and 3-round burst normal attack. Ranger suffers at close range but the default evasive move is a diving roll that covers a decent distance to get you out of the thick of it, while the Braver's evasive move is just a quick sidestep (though you can unlock a skill that adds a sort of "tackle" damage if you dodge through an enemy).