Honestly I want the bard for roleplaying reasons only, we don't really have any min/maxers in our group and do emphasize roleplaying. Some adventures will go as far to only have 1 combat per time. The spell casting is just icing on the cake. I guess if I had to prioritize why I am playing it would look like this.
Bard roleplaying
archer ability
inspire courage
spell casting
One reason I was thinking bard/ranger was for character concept only. Some backwoods traveler type who pops out of the woods every now and then into civilization. I was thinking some self reliant explorer type character who rolls into town and plays some music, charms some ladies, and then is off again on the next adventure. All the while being able to somewhat survive and fight alone.
**EDIT**
I'm actually thinking about using the Half-Satyr template from a Dragon Mag that would really pull the bard/ranger idea together. I'm sure people here won't appreciate it since it isn't the ultimate min/maxer but I'm starting to really like the character concept.
+2 Natural Armor
Low light vision
+2 racial Hide, Move, Listen, Spot, and any Perform
Disappointing that there is no stat increases though...