Yeah you are right on track the only use for Spears (other than an odd Warfare build) is for Rangers to have a melee weapon.
Something they TYPICALLY don't have to resort to (and if you are switching to a spear as a Ranger... something seriously went wrong)... and in fact I think they are more powerful keeping to their bows anyway.
It is why allowing the Spear to count as range for the purpose of range skills was another suggestion I made a while ago... (as well as throwing daggers) to allow Ranger + Scoundrel builds.
