There isn't a lot of in-era data about bow damage, I think likely because bows weren't very useful (better for rangers, but not great) until Luclin bow buffs.
Here is a post that talks about 70-80 damage with a bow of the huntsman, and crits for 140 -
https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/...97715029532147
Not a lot of context but seems to be a Ranger vs stationary mobs ("really could only do it against the giants...") Currently on p99 a ranger with an earthshaker can hit significantly harder than that, a warrior with a weighted axe has a *minimum* hit of over 100 damage.
It sounds like you agree that this is a bug, but I would consider this further evidence "20/30 with proc spirit strike. Which is STILL Better than Windsaber" (same post) - Windsaber is a superior bow on P99 because of this bug.
The patch notes referenced earlier in this thread imply that bows have their own bonus damage, but it's not clear if that's ranger only:
https://everquest.allakhazam.com/his...es-2001-1.html
"The ranger's "Trueshot" discipline has had its damage increased after
analyzing data from its fix last week. Prior to the last patch, all
bows, while under the discipline, were hitting as if they were 45dmg
bows regardless of the delay. Last week's patch fixed it so that damage
was based on the damage of the bow. This weeks patch increases damage
bonuses in relation to delay (longer delays yield better damage
bonuses)."
It's pretty obvious that the context is bow delay, not main hand weapon delay.
I'll try to find more in-era damage context, it's pretty spares though.
I would say that removing main hand weapon makes the bow damage feel more appropriate.
Rangers should definitely have the upper hand where archery is concerned, but I think the stationary double damage and critical hits were the only classic implementations of that.