The more I read into the gunslinger class, the more it feels like it is a class that really is going to be disappointing if you play it without access to firearms. I will try out a crossbow focused build, but why would a crossbow ace want to be a slinger and not a ranger? If the only reason is the extra accuracy of the slinger class, that doesn't really feel special enough to justify a full class for. Especially because crossbows just don't benefit from accuracy enough to justify being a part of a class that is all about deadly accuracy with lethal ranged weapons.
This especially feels problematic for me when I look at the way of the drifter. The way of the drifter is really, really cool, but doesn't really feel like it needs to be tied to a class so focused on crafting, firearms and spending multiple actions trying to set up the perfect shot.
A whole lot of the way of the drifter abilities and feats feel like they should be easily accessible by fighters, rangers, or even swashbucklers that want to be a mobile switch hitter.
I think there is a strong case to be made for extracting the crossbow ace from the gunslinger class unless the class is going to get feats that only work with crossbows and not firearms. Then the feats that really work well with crossbow themes should be available through crossbow focused archetypes, or a mobile one handed switch hitter archetype that could be accessible from multiple classes. What do you all think?
Part of the reason I think this could work is because firearms are now weapons that really are not class locked to Gunslingers, so abilities that are just about using a one handed ranged weapon don't feel like they need to be gunslinger feats and it feels like a mistake to make newer players thing that the gunslinger class will give as many options to a character that doesn't use a gun as one that does, when many of the feats are going to be gun focused.
Alternatively, I think a level 1 feat that gives any crossbows you use the deadly trait could at least bring crossbows back into the class in a way that makes it feel like you aren't losing out on the primary focus of the class.