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Ok, so I've been putting off asking this question because it's going to either make me a cheater or and idiot (or both!):

In the main Rulebook, page 51

Some weapons can be used in different ways, representing different power settings or types of ammo. Some weapons can be used in combat as well as shooting. Where this is the case, there will be a separate line in the weapon's profile for each, and you can choose which to use each turn.

Now, alot of the new Eldar weaponry has both a melee profile and a ranged profile (Laser Lance, Scorpion's Claw, Singing Spear etc.), so the above rule should apply to them right? Only I've never seen anyone else bring up this rule for melee weapons, just for missile launchers and the like.

Is this an oversight by the design team? Are Laser Lances really meant to be that terrible? Should I add this to the Eldar FAQ collection thread already going on?

At the very least, has anyone else been playing it wrong too?

What's the matter with that? The fact that if you use the shooting profile you wouldn't be able to use the melee profile perhaps?

edit : I see your point, for example the claw had, in the previous codex, a blurb explicitly allowing it to be used as both shooting and melee weapon /turn . I wonder if this is actually voluntary . Do bring it up in the FAQ thread.

I think the text order is just a bit wrong. If you move the second sentence to the end it makes more sense.

Is the second profile, the shooting one, an assault profile?

I don't have the codex so I can't check for myself, so forgive me for that. However I have seen duel profile that include melee and shooting options before, Kroot rifle for example has three profiles and one is melee oriented. This issue never occurred with such weapons in the past, and I see only a little possibility of creating one in the future, because of the rules on when you are allowed to carry out close combat. If the shooting profile forbids you from entering into close combat that turn, then you will never be in a situation where you will ever need to decide between the shooting and assault profiles. At least no more then the usual 'charge or shoot' question that occurs when you have a squad without assault weapons.

If it is an assault profile then I will need to dig deeper through terminology as that could create a headache of a situation and is a clashing of rules I can easily see Games Workshop overlooking.

Most are either Assault or Pistol, including the Laser Lance, which in an Assault weapon with a 6" range and a bonus profile like a power spear when it charges. Without this rule it's intent to fire and then charge seems obvious.

There are some applications if you aren't meant to be able to fire and charge, but I'm just trying to confirm one way or the other.

Does create an interesting situation then, and throw it on top of the FAQ list in hopes they answer that as I am very interested in it.

The use of the term 'turn' is the problem here, had they said 'phase' then it would be cut and dry.