You mean like Mage, Warlock, or Rogue? Their differences are just as distinct as pre-Legion Hunter.
Hunters in WoW have always used ranged weapons until Legion. Some have tried to use a melee only Hunter, but it was never successful. In fact, in MoP and WoD, Hunters couldn’t use melee weapons (might be able to equip them but they would lose most of their attacks).
I doubt that anyone is arguing about hunters that don’t use range weapons in real life. Some do it for fun. Others just don’t have ranged weapons. However, WoW is not real life and does not take place on our world. On Azeroth, the adventurers who train to be a Hunter have favored ranged weapons.
Funny how an “unpopuler” playstyle from the past was played WAY more than the Survival from Legion onwards.