I hated the ripper first, but after a while i learn how and WHEN to use is, and now it's my primairy weapon in small area's.
Specially the secondary fire is cool for clearing small hallway's.
And with the flak, skill is really needen, ok a single frag is easy made, but try to use is in again small area's whit killing you'rself.
Only weapon i hate is the redeemer, it look great, is blast is forminable, but it secondary fire leaves you too easy target.
Same whit a sniper, there is a mod where to can use them inscreen, but almost no server support that.
But on 1.1 magnification you still can use it effectly on short ranges