Correct on the casting hit rate and FA, tough to improve 100% 
I was think something like a speed or trigger buff bring associated with it for spells. But giving Attack Hawk AoE protection would be attractive and may let it live long enough to do some aggro siphoning.
There are certainly higher end mobs but we have managed Xaxia Viralis, Glaciactus, Haladan, Strange Stalker, Kultak, Xythus, Tythus, Switchmaster, Absatalius, Iztak and we are farming ToMC through Xebnok.
As to switching *blah* I don't want to switch my main a Ranger because I enjoy the way a Ranger plays. Davngr1 you say good players switched to utility or did you mean players who could not produce enough to keep their slot?
FA benefits Melee I am rarely in a group with melee classes, debuffs favor mages why would you slot a ranger in either the MT, OT or Mage group? Our brother Predator Assassins are a natural fit for the OT group and normally get the benefit of of a dirge, coercer and Illy. My complaint is that you actually need to build a group around a Ranger to get the best DPS your not going to add a Ranger to a group to make it better in today's environment. Sure FA would be bones if a scout group were still viable but I don't know anyone that runs a scout group anymore do you?
Utility? No I would rather have DPS, to get that you need a good group. Group logic for a Ranger is messed up. I still have a slot in a good guild and am thankful for it. It does not lessen the frustration though as I have watched people I consistently used to outparse inevitably passing me on the parsing list Primarily because the group logic sucks. Also Gaige is right in that the hit rates on AA drastically change a Rangers DPS as so much of their DPS is AA and the coeffcient they palce on Ranged is a significant negative too. Itemization does tend to favor melee not ranged though that has improved lately.