I wanted to test the snipe changes in a way that I wouldn't have any preconceived notions of, so I rolled up my Rad/Rad Defender that I'm currently playing on Live. This character is only level 13, and I have never used Proton Volley with any instasnipe mechanics, so I felt I could get a better impression of what it was like to play with a snipe as it would be on a new character. I leveled the Defender to 17 and slotted it with reasonable slotting for the level (prestige enhancements from the P2W vendor and level 20 DOs). I did a very basic test with a +0/x0 x/ bosses police radio defeat boss mission.
In the end, I'm very excited for the snipe changes on this character. The snipe was immediately useful to my Defender and the extra strength of the attack will greatly assist the long haul to Cosmic Burst as a Defender (which I always wish came earlier than 28). Radiation Blast really lacks in single target abilities early and having the snipe useful long before I could afford the power tax makes me all the more excited to get it. Defenders don't have much damage in general, so every little bit helps if you want to solo. The slow snipe portion was useful too for taking out (or at least severely damaging) an even level minion prior to debuffs being toggled. I'm sure it's just a display difference, but I wasn't expecting to get the snipe bonus show on each of the 3 hits The only downside was that I couldn't get a slow snipe after laying down debuffs because I would have then been in-combat stance.