F2P PKing ranges used to be the shizzle however, that Maple Longbow (sighted) was extremely powerful and RS gold was the ideal weapon for sniping at enemies and killing looters. It was probably the most powerful F2P weapon because you could shoot from a distance with it and it came with a Rune armor set and be extremely precise in your shots.
While magic was a good thing, it was rarely used. Also, it was not an elite skill and wasn't as effective in the same way as hybrid PKing. This is like saying that it has no use since hybrid PKing has been largely obsolete compared to the past. I believe that melee is the best combat method. Ranging is my favourite. The RS3 Long Range Combat styles are far more effective than melee. Personally, I think magic is the best. It can be cheap RuneScape gold used to do everything, including Bossing, PvPing, and Slayer.