So far, I found 2 rares (Benelli M4 and another shotgun with a unique name). I tried out the M4 and it is pretty damn cool! That being said, however, after killing two enemies with it, I immediately ran back to a cache and threw it in there because I was too afraid to lose it.

Why is it possible for rares to be lost if you die? Honestly, while I really love the idea of rare weapons, I really hate the fact that you can lose them. Considering how short the average player's life is in this game, it seems to make the rare guns' existence absolutely pointless. Why try so hard to find a good gun if you will lose it again within the next few minutes?

The rare guns are usually a bit stronger than stock weapons. It would make it unfait towards other players if you could run all the time with a rare weapon.

Exactly, and there will be vests specifically for this reason. Wearing a vest will allow you to survive otherwise lethal bullet hits, by either stunning you or wounding you so that you'll need someone else to heal you back to action.

For now, rare weapons only work as temporary trophies. You either play cautiously with them or allow them to circulate among players by fighting where they fight so that someone picks it up again before it disappears.

I see.I suppose that would help, but there is one other issue Ive noticed after losing 3 rares: the item clear time on many servers is really very short, and even if you are a short distance away from your death point, the weapons still disappear before you can reach them again. perhaps if the rare weapons had a longer 'grace period' before they disappear?

Maybe that's a bug, weapons as well as other items should have about 30 seconds time to live when on ground.

I see. Well, I have another question. What is the point of the Pepperdust shotgun? I had it for about 3 minutes before I lost it, but it's a non lethal weapon, right? all you can do is knock people down, so what is the point of even having it? Why knock em down then you can just kill them?

Lucky you, I never managed to get it yet :p
As you may know knifing soldiers gives you 2.5x as much XP than killing them with something else than a melee weapon. So if used correctly you might grind a lot of XP with the pepperdust. But ya, it's not easy and better not to be used on open fields. Better put it in your stash for when the times come (city maps for example).

I think a vest would only be balanced in invasion mode, it wouldn't be much fun in PvP. Of course, since invasion is players vs. AI, there's no need to have such a perfect balance.

I agree.