This would make it affect different sized-mechs differently. Large components, like those of an atlas, will likely still be large enough to have the projectile just hit one component like the CT. Tiny mechs like the spider will be so small that any increase of the projectile size will make it large enough that the damage will be spread across many components. Of course at short range you can still leg those pesky lights, but a long range you shouldn't expect to one-volley them into oblivion.
The last MW games I played before MWO were MechWarrior 2 and MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (the memories!), and I was very surprised to see the PPC changed from a ball of energy that explodes on contact into these gauss-rifle like monstrosities. So, make it right! Change the PPC into energy bombs instead of energy needles.
TLDR: Short range no change. Long range PPC's do AoE damage instead of pinpoint damage. To compensate, reduce overall damage reduction beyond optimal range.
Edited by HansBlix WMD, 20 June 2013 - 09:36 AM.