Not a good player here, but had some questions while reading this.
DoomTurtle, you say that there is a drawback to elite riflemen because the cool down on the veteran rifle call-in. I don't think this quite qualifies as a drawback, because you have exactly the same capacity to call-in normal riflemen as any other US doc. In fact, since you have both a building that makes rifles and a call-in for them, you actually can get riflemen on the field faster (given the resources for it) than any other US doc.
The only drawback to the vetted rifles is the extra mp (20 right?) and that isn't much of one ... the cool down isn't a draw back, it's just a modest limit to the vet advantage that you get over other US docs.
Not saying Elite Rifle is OP, but whereas other docs (IMO) tend to offer additional variety or options, this one feels like it just gives straight up buffs.
I understand what you are saying and to an extent its not a drawback in the mid late game, it is however a drawback in the early game for it only allows the player to pump out a small amount of veted rifles in comparison to the fresh rifles they can produce normally. Early game is the area of contest here for it is why tourney directors have it banned. I merely am stating that in my opinion tourney commander bans need reevaluated due to the fact that there has been many big patches since their ban and the game is a different place.
Romeo - I know you didn't ban any commanders and it seems to have worked out very well. People where not upset and to be honest even with the choice like you said it was only chosen hand full of times. I just want a revaluation of the commander bans.