BM vs MM after KMST updates

for pierce to be really effective, we also need 21 DB. add another 7 levels of skills to get before MMs are good.

No you don't. Using DB and then charging is, in most cases, a waste; it's much better to charge while moving, and then simply try to hit as many enemies as possible when you come by them (example: while moving from the middle platform at skeles, I drop off at the right side of the map, and kill some lone skelegons there. While moving to the left side of the map, I charge piercing arrow. Usually, I'm able to hit at least 3-4 skelegons like this with a full charge even though I have 140 speed, which makes the piercing arrow shot better than anything else). Plus, 11 DB would be plenty for gathering mobs of 6; you just need to push 5 monsters next to another one, you don't need to actually push 6 of them around. Heck, even level 1 does a fine job of gathering mobs of 6.

to answer your starting post: you need to level a marksman to 173 to have fun playing, whereas the BM only needs to be high 14x at most. oh yeah, by the time 17x rolls around most people have quit.

Only if your definition of fun is having maxed all the (better) damage boosting skills.

In my opinion, it's less fun when you have all your skills maxed. All I have to look forward to now is Hamstring. Whoop dee doo.

Indeed. On the other hand, Blind does look convenient. >_>!