And the maps are designed in such a way that the snipers can get raped. And the game is designed so that they can be easily knocked about.
And seriously, try actually tacking a moving target, unscoped. It's not that easy to do it accurately. The only way you'd be able to accurately track someone at enough of a distance where they can't destroy you with assault rifles is if you're insanely steady, your sensitivity settings are low enough that CQB is impossible, or the other player isn't even trying. Seriously, I can't think of a single instance where a sniper was able to take me down unscoped and I'm certainly not a good Halo player.
If the sniper rifle were as good as you're trying to imply, nobody would bother with assault rifles. In my experience, people gravitate towards BRs.
unscoped in a close to medium range is exactly like shooting someone from a distance with the scope, it's just that you can see more and they'll probably try to move a bit more to dodge you. Also the reason people like BR is because it's flexible, and it's basically the only thing that can combat the sniper at distance, every other gun at any half decent range just shits on its self when trying to hit someone.
Step 1) Pick up shotgun.
Step 2) When you see swordsman, start shooting.
Step 3) Teabag your attacker's corpse.
Good luck finding the shotgun first, it's usually just as rare as the sword on maps that have both. that and they're still is the uncertainty with it.
Also the rocket lawchair is at it's best in medium range, just jump and remotely shoot at their feet. Splash damage always catches them.
Spec, I haven't got much to say, thanks to your pointing out pretty much everything I was gonna say about Halo. Sure, it didn't invent the genre, but it certainly brought the genre to where it is today. It IS well balanced (From the amount I've played anyway). I've got no gripes at all about the game, aside from maybe wanting more maps (which is only a minor gripe at best).
I hardly find it balanced, the only way to beat someone with a power weapon is to find them first, start shooting them before they damage you (also another thing I absolutely HATE about halo, letting a person get behind you and shoot you with any half decent gun basically means you are as good as dead, due to their not being any real body weak points) and hopefully kill them before they notice you.
Also about map balance, it's also bad. Snipers on that one big map with 2 bases have the roof to start at, and also have teleporters to run if they start to be approached from too many people. Also on that smaller metal map that "floats", the sniper has one of the highest spots on the map and only one walk way to get up to it, so any half decent person will unscope time to time to check his back.
Also I've never played an older UT game, just one that was on my friends old xbox. ;_;