Heavy armor is worthless, once they get on top of you you are as good as dead because the heavy armor does not offset the dps advantage they have over you.
Closing the distance gap is awfully easy, not only because of the tools they have but also because we have to channel to fire. Either you stay and die, or you run and die a bit later. The reality is that once you start firing the only reason you don't have someone in your face is because they are busy with someone else. At which point its 2v1 and you are being a liability.
You can see it in their eyes as they close towards you... you're the valor pinata. Or when they decide not to engage because they can't be bothered with the mosquito stings. Not threatened. Because they will break off from their glowsick fight and just run forward the whole 30m and the extra ones after being pushed two times and frozen and then kill you as they laugh at your attempt to shoot at them.
Today I rolled a shadow. Threw it at a couple of WZs. That thing at level 10 and ungeared is about 20-30% better than my level 30 commando (or merc if you prefer) in all aspects. The glass is here, the cannon is not. Damn easy to pad damage stats tho.