My 1.13 experience is many weapons, especially the most modern fancy ones, look cool but are not so useful. Maybe it is my playing style, maybe it reflects RL. Anyway my impression is there is place for improvement in terms of weapons' stats/progress. I guess this is not a main focus of the mod.

It is so natural I feel like it should be around from the beginning of JA2 times..., unless mercs are facing local police (yellow shirts?, but starting sector was attacked by the army with tanks not by police with mere .38s...) or gangers. Sidearms equipped soldiers... well pistols are good for officers or a military band members...