Yes, everything you have pointed out in your list of Pros is exactly why I stated that a lot of CO players have been playing CO as a specialist. You're the most uber marine that exists right there with a really chad scout spec, two cons out of all of that is really negligible considering both can be completely avoided. This reinforces my statement very well and I appreciate you adding it in.
I'm in full agreement with Feweh on this, because from its inception CO has always been an RP role first, with the XO being the disposable substitute who gets to learn the ropes of command before preparing for the whitelist. It's only recently after several buffs and adjustments, unique weapons added for... some reason I'll never understand that players have tried to curve CO into a ground commander. The blatant fact is, if you're at the front lines, there's little chance for actual RP. (I'm not going to count shouting for OB's and demanding more Defcon to be RP, as they're really not.)
Thing is, if this were old CM I would have said yeah sure let them go down. To me though, it makes no sense that you lot added in a story requirement to the CO whitelist after councils formed, only for more and more CO's to avoid RP in order to do exactly what you've stated, charge to the front and more effectively rush, flank, or push the enemy to end the round faster. (Fun fact for those of you who are newer to the server, the CO whitelist used to only require a Ckey and your general play time, and enough players to vouch for you. Many of these first CO's were grandfathered into the new system with no update to their applications, because reasons.)
I can't speak for them, but I imagine one of the reasons they made this choice is because the CO's that are deploying on the 1st and 2nd drop are doing just that, rushing the enemy and either winning the round or losing it so quickly that little else can happen in a round. That's not to state that there isn't the occasional stalemate, but they're not incredibly common. (By stalemate I'm specifically referencing both sides controlling a home base and fighting over no-man's land, not either side being pushed back to their fob/main hive. Though, sometimes that does end in a stalemate.)
Personally, I'm not against CO's deploying in absolutely dire situations, but it's ridiculous to demand they should be able to land first or second drop and just charge the front lines like Genghis Khan. They're meant to be the most valuable person on the ship, they should be in reserve for a last ditch turn around or as the last man/woman standing with the ship crew as they're mercilessly slaughtered by Xenos.