: Except it actually shouldn't be, sniper rifles are supposed to be quiet, or
: at least as quiet as they can be. For multiplayer this can be a problem,
: which is why the rounds leave contrails and I'm sure partly why it usually
: sounds louder and sharper, but this won't affect multiplayer.

Somehow in that I forgot about just the appeal. It is nice to have a weapon that sounds (and acts) like you use it to strike down your enemies with invisible lightning, but it can old after a while and not matter as much. That effect or that process is what made me initially not like the sound of the DMR so much in Reach and then not mind it, and then like its sound in Halo 4 better, and then not really care.