Yes, I complained about this in EA several times in the last three years... it essentially fell on deaf ears. I got reply's like "it's a game, and too hard to code longer ranges". This 18 meter maximum applies to all spells as well, so its a total ranged character Nerf if you think about it. On hand crossbows though you are incorrect as the max range of hand crossbows is 15 meters not 18.
