Honestly guys I think this debate is taking kind of a disproportionate size to the actual issue. It is still a spell, working as it's PnP variant, even with a longer duration, that grants a buffing bonus that can be useful. It can even be used jointly with an aid spell, and by a level 2 with the proper gear. Rangers hardly suffer from having it in their spell list, and to call it a quality of life issue is quite a stretch. The fact that the use of certain items or the presence of other buffers may limit its use, doesn't remove anything to the Ranger class. In that respect it is not worse than many other spells used only in specific circumstances.
Quality of ranger life would be better served by expending the list of spells. So instead of focusing on a spell that is not a problem, I invite you to suggest new rangers spells, from published d20 sources, that could be interesting.
Let's get the ball rolling.
Gravity BowSchool transmutation; Level ranger 1, sorcerer/wizard 1; Elemental School metal 1, void 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range personal
Targets you
Duration 1 minute/level (D)
DESCRIPTION
Gravity bow significantly increases the weight and density of arrows or bolts fired from your bow or crossbow the instant before they strike their target and then return them to normal a few moments later. Any arrow fired from a bow or crossbow you are carrying when the spell is cast deals damage as if one size larger than it actually is. For instance, an arrow fired from a Medium longbow normally deals 1d8 points of damage, but it would instead deal 2d6 points of damage if fired from a gravity bow (see table on this page for associated increase/decrease in damage due to size change). Only you can benefit from this spell. If anyone else uses your bow to make an attack the arrows deal damage as normal for their size.
Table: Tiny and Large Weapon Damage Medium Weapon Damage Tiny Weapon Damage Large Weapon Damage
1d2 — 1d3
1d3 1 1d4
1d4 1d2 1d6
1d6 1d3 1d8
1d8 1d4 2d6
1d10 1d6 2d8
1d12 1d8 3d6
2d4 1d4 2d6
2d6 1d8 3d6
2d8 1d10 3d8
2d10 2d6 4d8
From the Pathfinder Advanced Player Guide. Could be implemented like Darkfire/Sonic Weapon/Bless Weapon/Corrupt weapon. Since most rangers would use longbows I would recommend it just apply a 1d6-1d8 damage bonus to their current arrow stack, making it a viable low level alternative to buying player-made arrows.
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/gravity-bowEdit: There is also another variant of this spell for melee weapons.
Lead BladesSchool transmutation; Level ranger 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range personal
Targets touch
Duration 1 minute/level (D)
DESCRIPTION
Lead blades increases the momentum and density of your melee weapons just as they strike a foe. All melee weapons you are carrying when the spell is cast deal damage as if one size category larger than they actually are. For instance, a Medium longsword normally deals 1d8 points of damage, but it would instead deal 2d6 points of damage if benefiting from lead blades (see table below). Only you can benefit from this spell. If anyone else uses one of your weapons to make an attack it deals damage as normal for its size.
Table: Tiny and Large Weapon Damage Medium Weapon Damage Tiny Weapon Damage Large Weapon Damage
1d2 — 1d3
1d3 1 1d4
1d4 1d2 1d6
1d6 1d3 1d8
1d8 1d4 2d6
1d10 1d6 2d8
1d12 1d8 3d6
2d4 1d4 2d6
2d6 1d8 3d6
2d8 1d10 3d8
2d10 2d6 4d8
It is from the same book, Pathfinder Advanced Player Guide. I'm not sure if such a spell could be made self-only. An alternative would be making it castable on allies and keeping its damage higher than the bless weapon spells, since it is physical damage and more likely to be resisted by DR. Also since, as physical damage, if the weapon is already enchanted, or receives a magic weapon spell it can have issues with NWN overriding +physical damage of the same type as the base weapon.