system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Half Life 2] What lunatic decided a crossbow shooting RED-HOT METAL BARS was a good use of valuable resources?

I cannot overemphasize the insanity of this weapon. I thought it was some sort of industrial tool when it was handed out, but no I was informed it was actually meant to be used in *combat* against an enemy with *guns.* Asides from being heavy, clumsy, and delicate with the stupid battery, the rebar 'ammo' is heavy itself and need I remind people is heated up red-hot. Because there's no way that a glowing-hot bar of metal just sitting there could possibly be a hazard to a user, right?

Seriously, why does this exist? Did rifles cease to be overnight?
gpt
its a weapon slapped together by users who did not have access to acutal guns. and it proved to be incredibly effective, being able to pierce Overwatch easily, the penetrating power of that weapon is way greater than any gun you can get your hands on. 

its a weapon for the desperate, and it proved to be so powerful that people kept using it.