Not only intended, but pretty close to the same. In that respect it's close to the WEG d6 Star Wars game too. Range there was simply a factor in having the GM set a difficulty number for players to roll.
That's actually incorrect, Funny Hat. The weapons in D6 Star Wars are given ranges. For example, Short Range for a blaster pistol is 3-10 meters. Short Range for a DL-44 (Han Solo's Heavy Blaster pistol) is 3-7 meters. Short Range for a stormtrooper blaster rifle is 3-30 meters.
The Range Band system typically is an easy-sand-over-the-details-and-get-on-with-it system. That's not true in D6 Star Wars. You pretty much have to count meters. If stormtroopers and Rebels are 15 meters apart, where the troopers are using standard issue rifles and the Rebels have standard blaster pistols, then the troopers are at Medium Range for the Rebels where as the troopers are firing at Short Range to hit the Rebels. That's a big difference in target number, 10+ or 15+.
Short Range for a....
Hold-Out Blaster is 3-4 meters
Sporting Blaster like Leia's weapon in A New Hope is 3-10 meters
If the Range Band system were used, then these weapons would both fire at the same Short Range band (but modifiers might apply).
The Difference is: In D6 Star Wars, you have different ranges, counted in meters, for different weapons, to account for Point-Blank, Short, Medium, and Long Range.
In a Range Band system, the Point Blank is the same distance for all weapons and movement. The same goes for Short, Medium, and Long Range.
The D6 system is probably the kind of range system that the OP is used to--like that used in D&D.
Classic Traveller is a game that uses Range Bands (optionally, in some cases).
Again, Range Bands are simple because, if your characters are running around the corridors of the Death Star, and combat breaks out, he can declare all blaster combat at Short Range (except for a massive room, like one of the hangars, where he might use Short and Medium Range).
When you know that all combat will be at Short Range, combat flows. It's easy. There's no counting range squares, meter per meter, for particular weapons.
What you lose with Range Bands is the gritty detail. Some people like to know exactly where Short Range ends and Medium Range begins for their particular weapon (though that's kinda arbitrary, if you think about it...it's X to hit to a certain distance, then, magically, it's X+Y to hit a target that crosses a certain line.)
Both systems can be quite fun.
To the OP: Embrace Range Bands. Don't run from them. They can make your game easier, faster, and maybe more fun.
EDIT: THE DIFFERENCE IN RANGE AND RANGE BANDS
A Hold-Out Blaster (picture a Star Wars derringer) has this range in D6: Short: 3-4, Medium: 5-8, Long: 9-12
A Sporting Blaster (like Leia's in A New Hope) has this range in D6: Short: 3-10, Medium: 11-30, Long: 31-120
So...you've got to count. If a target is at 10 meters, it's a Short Range (10+) blaster task to hit the target with the Sporting Blaser, but it's a Long Range (20+) task to hit with the hold out.
Now, look at a Range Band game--Classic Traveller.
One Distance Scale is Used for All Weapons and Movement (The game also allows for grid movement/range with 1.5 meters squares--the Ref can choose either or both for his game)
A Range Band in this game is approximately 25 meters.
Short Range is 1-5 meters (within one Range Band)
Medium Range is 6-50 meters (with one to two complete Range Bands)
Long Range is 51-250 meters (three to 10 Range Bands)
Very Long Range is 251-500 meters (11-20 Range Bands).
FIGURING RANGE
This makes it easy to figure range for any type of situation.
If you fight in melee or hand-to-hand (called Brawling in Classic Traveller), that takes place at Close Range (which is less than 1 meter).
If you are in tight confines, like inside a space ship or a house, then use Short Range (1-5 meters) for combat.
If you are outside, in a normal firefight, distances are typically longer, so use Medium Range (6-50 meters) for the entire combat--unless someone gets real close.
Anything longer than Medium Range is typically not used in combat, unless you are a sniper or firing at vehicles down the road--those are cases for Long Range.
THIS IS HOW EASY IT IS.
You're outside, approaching a house where you suspect enemies. Use Medium Range.
The Players make it to the door, bust it in, then go inside. Now,the battlefield is smaller. Use Short Range.
Body Pistol (like a derringer or small handgun) is +1 to hit at Short Range and -6 to hit at Medium Range.
A standard AutoPistol (a standard automatic pistol) is +2 to hit at Short Range and -4 to hit at Medium Range.
So, you get the same effect as you do with the D6 Star Wars system above--the short range weapon is very inferior to a standard side-arm at longer ranges--but you don't have to count range with the Range Band system.
Ref: "You're outside, all targets are at Medium Range. Boom. Let's go."
Ref: "You're on a spacecraft. Tighter confines than when you were on the planet outside. All target are at Short Range. Boom. Let's go."
Ref: "A stormtroopers bursts from around the corner. No weapon drawn. He tries to backhand you with his armored wrist! All melee is at Close range. Boom. Let's go."