They are good not only with bows but also with spears. Note that GM rank in spears brings nothing essential in MM7 and that archers can be masters of spear. Note also that spears are the best melee weapons in MM7. Wimpy fighters??!?! Hmmmm, I am sorry I don't understand They can be masters of all elemental magic. Well, no Lloyd's Beacon but all other essential elemental spells. If your party has come to *fight* and not to *cast spells* then the archer is not only an excellent fighter but also a mage wich will be also able to open locks. What more do you want?

Sure, you will have problems with archers in the beginning of the game. They need the first promotion ASAP and it means the lower floor of the Red Dwarf Mines. Until they become Master Archers (and it means Titan Stronghold), they cannot learn master level spells. But all this is manageable and later in the game, you will be paid for all your problems many times.