While I think Rangers add a decent bit of utility to a group, the overall perception of Rangers probably comes from the fact that they simply don't bring anything unique or compelling to the table.
There's really no reason to "pick" a Ranger over another class at this stage in the game. All of the things they can do, other classes can do better.
When you switch focus from grouping to raiding, the poor Ranger really starts to have issues, because there's really not a single thing they can do that makes them a worthwhile addition to a raid.
DPS? Get a Rogue or Monk instead
Puller? Monk or Bard
Healer? haha
Buffer? haha
Crowd Control? Enchanter or Shaman
Tank? Warrior, Pal, SK
The only thing pre-Weaponshield that Rangers are good for at a raid is as a Death Touch sacrifice, since the raid doesn't lose any key functionality when a Ranger dies
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Of course, many of these issues were addressed in later expansions. Weaponshield pulling when combined with AE-Taunt is an extremely useful tactic in later encounters, and they even give Rangers some decent buffs eventually that are desirable for raiding, as well as a strong DPS boost. However, none of those features are in scope for this project (since AA isn't till Luclin).