A.) They, by design do comparably less DPS than other classes, although it's not more than 15% or so in optimal situations, (ie target dummy fights/Faust). Anyone who says they aren't, clearly hasn't compared same ilevel weapons between classes and noticed that, by design, BRDs and MCHs have less physical damage than others, ever healers.
B.) Yeah, MCHs are so similar to BRDs it's insane.