As far as damage focused classes go, changing SV from a ranged spec to a melee spec is the equivalent of changing it to a different sub-role. Sure, it’s still a damage dealing spec, but in terms of the game and how it’s designed, there are clear differences between melee combat and ranged combat.
The term “hybrid” doesn’t just apply to classes that have options to tank/heal as well as dps. In fact, there are many ways to define what “hybrid” means.
Your view of classes and specs, as written in your reply further up, basically makes it sound as if you don’t want classes to have more than 1 ranged 1 melee focused spec, unless they also have access to specs that fill the role of a tank or healer.
What you said about Outlaw for Rogues highlights that view of yours so well.
Rogues in this game, and in the Warcraft-universe, are melee fighters. And there are many types of rogues out there in the world. 1 opportunistic spec that follows no rules(Outlaw) inspired by the harshness found in the life of pirates, 1 spec that focuses on bleeds and on enhancing poisons(Assa) and one spec that focuses on the art of stealth and surprise attacks(Sub).
Makes perfect sense from an RPG-standpoint.
It’s wasn’t just the visuals that changed between the specs. If you go back and actually look at what each spec focused on and how they did it, you will quickly realize how RSV was about dealing damage over time(DoTs), and about consistency. And it could easily have been designed to focus on that mechanical aspect even more so in the modern game.
Also, if you’re arguing that visuals and sounds don’t matter regarding design and identities, keep in mind that this is an RPG. Such things matters a great deal to many players.