Let’s Discuss: Is POE2’s Current Class Representation Way Too Lopsided?

Just checked the latest POE.Ninja stats, and the class/ascendancy numbers hit me—thought it’d be great to chat with everyone about this together. Some picks are sitting at 40%+ representation, while others are stuck at 1-3%… even below 1% for a couple. Doesn’t this feel way too extreme? Let’s break it down and share our takes.
First off, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Deadeye is still over 40%. I get meta picks are a thing, but when nearly half the player base clusters into one ascendancy, isn’t that a red flag? Do you guys think it’s just “too strong” mechanically, or is it that other options feel so underwhelming by comparison?
Then there’s Witch Hunter—GGG said they buffed it not long ago, right? But it’s still only at 3%. What’s going on here? Is the buff just not enough (like tiny number tweaks that don’t fix core issues), or does the class’s mechanic itself feel clunky? Has anyone here tried playing Witch Hunter post-buff? Did you notice any real difference?
And don’t even get me started on Gemling Apostle and Chronomancer—they’re basically “invisible” with less than 1% each. It’s like they got “wiped out” from the meta entirely. Do you think their problem is complexity (too hard for new players to pick up) or pure strength (even optimized builds can’t keep up)? Has anyone mained these and found a way to make them work? I’d love to hear your tips if you have!
I’m also gearing up for the Chinese server launch, and this balance stuff has me second-guessing. As someone who likes experimenting, it’s disheartening to see so many options feel “not worth it.” Do you think new players will just flock to the top 2-3 ascendancies because of the stats, or will some still risk trying the underdogs? For veteran players—have you ever stuck with a low-rep class and made it shine? What kept you going?
Last question to kick things off: When it comes to fixing this, do you think GGG should first tweak the overrepresented picks (like softening Deadeye’s strengths) or double down on buffing the 冷门 ones (making Gemling Apostle/Chronomancer feel viable)? Or is there a middle ground I’m missing?
No right or wrong answers here—just want to hear what everyone thinks. Drop your takes in the comments!

Deadeye is simple - Tailwind. In a game which has turned moving around into a chore having speed is the best thing you can ask for.