There is a time to use cons (or penals) at max range. And that's simply just holding ground in green cover so grens can't advance. Although the grens will eventually out DPS you, it's the buying time which is worth staying in green cover for, regardless of range.
Not everything boils down to DPS.
You are 100% right but this is starting to stray from the actual topic I think.
Just gonna throw it out there again, on the right maps if you upgrade Penals with flamethrowers they will vet so fast that they become an insane flanking squad with vet 2 Oorah! Speaking of... why not make Oorah vet 1 for them? Would it be so strong? Assault Grens get vet 0 sprint...