Just clearing up some things here:
A ST of 1-6 doesnt give you any extra dmg, for every ST point over 6 you get 1 extra maxdmg. With special builds you can get the MPF damage up to 20-52 though of course the build itself would be shit.
Anyway, the super sledge is really just a fun weapon right now. The knockback is in fact just helping the opponent as he gets some extra time replenishing AP while you are running up to him. If anything, the hammer should have auto-Knockdown.
Concerning the MPF, it's actually possible to make a really good build with it, with 10lk,2-3 more crit, 1-2 toughness and 3 eyeblows in a row that can kill basically anything in 2-6 blows, depending on luck, armor and build.
I am confident that a good melee dmg build can take out even 2 enemies at once, given the right location (mines, downtown areas) and at least some good luck. However, what pisses me off is the fact that the lagging of the server has a high chance of depriving the melee attacker of his AP with one of these fake attacks that we all know and love, but most importantly that the enemy can just run away without any problems at all, aided by the lags.
One solution, though a poor looking one, would be to reduce the animation time of the melee attacks to virtually nothing. It would allow the melee to succesfully attack a 2burster without being condemned to take that second fatal burst after getting 2 shitty crits himself.
Concerning the balance, such a change would not be too overpowered as the melee still has to get close to the enemy, all while he can decide to fight or run. Even with that build with 3 attacks, you are not guaranteed to take out any enemy at once and after you have delivered your blows, you are left without any AP at all while the opponent would still have some left.
As far as I can see, this change would not affect PvE as it doesnt change the damage, just the alpha strike. For me it makes sense that in actual close quarters combat, the melee has the edge over any other build. The reality is however, that Snipers can just run away while bursters always have the odds on their side.
Either you get that KO with an estimated chance of 10-20% or you are dead.