In the beta the SVK was way better than the M39, it's not even a comparison. If I recall correctly, it was a 2 shot kill upto at least medium range. The M39 was balanced so poorly that I didn't even want to waste time playing it. It was by far the worst weapon in the beta.
DMRs are obviously not going to shine in maps that force close engagement distances. I'd like to think you choose a weapon based on the situation and not based on the class you pick.
I do agree that Recon has an identity crisis. It's not a new problem though, DICE has always struggled with balancing them correctly. The class is traditionally given lackluster gadgets or gadgets that do not align with their role.
Sniper rifles are fun, but they are generally completely useless from a competitive perspective. No matter how good you are at the game, picking an assault rifle will give you more kills and actually allows you to contest objectives. The sweetspot mechanic is honestly a bad mechanic, but it at the very least allows you to get more kills, if you do choose to stay at longer ranges.
I'd much rather have Recon be a saboteur, that's specialized in harassing the enemy. That's why I enjoyed Recon having access to C4 in Battlefield 4. A carbine, spawn beacon, smokes and C4 is really my preferred way to play the class
