Like many of the more recent replies show, we have several players who do like/love the current iteration of the Survival spec.
Which makes for my point really. As long as we keep arguing that: The spec has to be ranged again vs. NO, it has to be melee! As long as we continue with this, we won’t get anywhere.
If the devs keep it still focused on melee gameplay, then those of us who loved that old ranged DoT-spec, we will continue to petition for a playable version like that to come back. If they instead change it back to be a ranged spec, then those who currently like it as it is, in BfA, then they will feel neglected as well.
We are different, we all have our preferences on what playstyle we like.
Besides, it’s not like a 4th spec option cannot be done, it’s just a matter of changing the minds of the devs that there is justification for giving us one.
Idd.
My first thought when I saw that they were changing SV into a melee spec was: Okay, you want to bring in the focus on melee combat to the Hunter class, it’s essentially a completely new playstyle for the class, so why not give us a 4th spec from the start?
Yep, I’ve posted my share of replies in there as well.
I came into it fairly late though. Think my first reply came as number 431 or something. Yeah, this one: We need range Survival Hunters back - #457 by Ghorak-laughing-skull
I’m a EU player so, prior to the post in the link, I haven’t done any posts on the US forums. I went over here because I like the increased activity on these forums compared to EU. These forums show about 10 times the number of daily visitors and people engaging in discussions compared to that of EU forums.
Now, as far as changing the minds of the devs towards that 4th spec option, I have no idea if they(devs or other mods) even bother to engage in a thread with so many replies.
But, if I don’t post any replies containing my motivation behind my suggestions, or if I don’t post any suggestions at all, then they certainly won’t see them. This is just how I choose to look at it.
Which is why I create topics like this one as well: https://eu.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/4th-spec-pre-legion-survival-spec-fantasy/47579