Ranger DPS is really not great. It's okay, sort of on the level of a warrior or a rogue who doesn't backstab. Monk DPS is better and they have a clearly defined role in raids, so if you're worried about what class would be "best" to play, fact and logic dictates that it's the monk. You might enjoy the ranger more, especially if you've already played a monk once and it won't be an experience of discovery, but that's something you have to decide for yourself. Ranger is a weak class that can be put to decent use by good players, but those same players could achieve more with just about any other given class. Rangers are good in the hands of good players. Any other class is better in the hands of those same players, because they're good players.
Kunark is especially nice for monks whereas it was kind of a step back for hybrids. That expansion really caters to the class, with vastly improved itemization and a number of unique weapons that are both amazing and universally accessible - anyone can get a Tranquil Staff or an Imbued Fighter's Staff or whatever. The monk epic is also a good deal easier to get than ranger epics. Rangers will be useful in Kunark because of its large outdoor zones and wandering dragons and quest mobs, but I consider that such a small aspect of the class that it would never define the playing experience. You have to really, truly love the ranger class to get over the fact that it is inarguably the worst class in the game until Luclin/PoP. If you can, it'll be an entertaining and uncommon class to play. If not, you'll never be without the nagging feeling that you're sub-par.
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