<Taking into account cocking roundtimes, heavy crossbows have one of the highest round times in the game resulting in a very low DPS>

Unless you're a hasted wizard (or whatever strategy they use since HSN), the key to any ranged weapon is crit damage, not DPS. This is why they're mostly used by rogues and rangers that can afford the training to reliably aim for the eyes.

A crossbow's strength wasn't speed, it was that they can be used by anyone with minimal training... unlike a bow that requires years of practice to become proficient but could be fired quickly. I could see being able to AIM them more easily with less training or a bump to their DF (a heavy crossbow should def have a higher DF then a longbow across the board, esp at the close ranges of fights in GS), but I don't have a problem with their DPS.

Starchitin

A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.