Here was Relic's last nerf to the damage profile:
The LeIG and pack howie were toxic to the game back then. They would be again. The LeIG still looks like the scatter is bugged so the accuracy is the same at 100 as at the minimum range. The only thing that you suggested that would be okay is the smoke option. Using smoke to help infantry get close would be okay and add something that OKW lacks.
I dunno there's still a lot there which contributed at the time that are now gone...namely the FUCKING SUPPRESSION, JUST REMEMBERING IT RRAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH
So yeah, an AoE buff like that should still be pretty far from the old cancer. Like miragefla said, the one-shot radius shouldn't really change from his suggestions, it'll just improve the weapon's effectiveness on non-direct hits.