Relatively advanced player here. I only used the Fusion Rifle in PvE situations up until some time yesterday when I decided to take it into the Crucible. I had been wrecked by it multiple times so I figured, why not? After picking it up, getting a feel for it, and successfully implementing it multiple times for kills, I encountered a hunter who had a 100% success rate at strafing out of my shots. And since I observed him doing such a thing, I have not been killed by a single fusion rifle... I just strafe the person. Very strong weapon, very easy to avoid with the right mentality. Perfectly balanced. Now the shotgun on the other hand.... [spoiler]is also totally fine.[/spoiler]