They could always make it so that the target box doesn't show up when the enemy is behind a wall or structure, when using free-aim. Would make hugging relatively the same as it is now, while still giving free-aim its other uses.
I think this would be a fantastic solution to the v-button issue. V button is incredibly useful with open sniping or with rave/pic
What people do not seem to have understood is that sniping wont be the way it was (abused) in Old Renegade, or atleast it wont be as easy.
Free-aim should defenitely not be a priority, and I highly the initial lack of it will put players off. Unless you were one of those people playing on sniper-only servers, but then you were playing Renegade the wrong way in my opinion.