Zardnaar
Legend
I prefer distance builds in video games but that's primarily because I find melee never really works that well for me in a FPS setup. Games like Jedi: Fallen Order / Survivor are an exception, because they are built to make it a little easier to hit things with a lightsaber, but in other games, I just find it so much easier to point and shoot than try to aim a melee weapon.
That being said, I am quickly learning that you can't just point and shoot and always expect to hit something in Fallout 4. Those dastardly deathclaws and their zig-zagging, for instance! But also, range and accuracy are a real thing. I'll have my mouse hovering over an enemy's head but my shot will go wide. And then sometimes a stupid wall or railing gets in the way.
I have not been that impressed with the VATS system so far. I tend to miss with it more often than when I just shoot normally. That might be because of how I've built my character with low Luck and such, I don't know.
You're better off manually shooting. Vs things like charging deathclaws use jet variants.
VATs is very good with high perception and perks. Headshots.