Manyshot

[Exer]

Arrows do 1d6 but can hit from a distance. That's an advantage no melee weapon has.

As for the STR advantage, not sure if this applies in FK but a composite longbow will give you that STR bonus to your damage. And if I remember right, a shortbow does as well to a max of +2 damage.

I was never one to seek magical arrows, even over table top. You lose them too often. A good magical bow on the other hand, is great to have.
But with this in mind, imagine getting yourself a +4/+4 bow with +4/+4 arrows. Bow and arrows can combine magical bonuses like no other melee weapon +8/+8.

[Argentia]

While enchanted arrows aren't exactly economical, nonmagical arrows actually are, if properly recollected as described above.

But still, you have to take the time to recollect them, while with a blade you just keep on hacking away till the cows come home.

As for your example of a hundred arrows lasting twelve rounds, I can only think of a handful of mobs and even fewer PCs off-hand that can stand up to a hundred hits in twelve rounds

Keep in mind that when you adventure, you rarely ever face just one mob. In a dungeon infested with goblins or ghasts or drow or whatever, 12 rounds is not very long.

[Kregor]

Editing my post.. seeing as someone has already said something about hitall in another post