I just had this discussion over on HaloWaypoint and thought it pertinent to post here. The Bold/Italic text is from another user there. The plain text is my response.

Ban the Jetpack: Can’t be anymore blunt than that. The Jetpack probably the worst AA’s put into reach, If it wasn’t for the infamous Armor lock hogging up the spotlight, The jetpack would be removed from Halo a long time ago, But that didn’t happen… And now the Jetpack is possible threat to Halo 4 Matchmaking and must be fixed/removed at all costs.

Really? The Jetpack is the worst? How about a near perpetual Active Camo that people use to snipe unsuspecting enemies? Only a NOOB does that. Of course you’re right on Armor Lock, and I’m glad it’s gone in Halo 4. Evade is not so good either, that’s what it’s just sprint and not evade in Halo 4. Jetpack makes it fun for those who love to fly around the map. It also has it’s cons. You’re in the open, can’t strafe and end up being an easy target.

Why the Jetpack is flawed:  It breaks map flow…Simple as, What’s the point of Having walls and boundaries when you can simply fly over them. This breaks map control since you can just fly to Power weapons without going through the map and you can Bypass the enemy team. This may seem harmless but then you get maps like sword base where you are just bundled into the top corner of the map because it was specially designed for jetpacks, which is honestly just a load of rubbish and shouldn’t be the case. 

OMG, how many times I’ve heard, “It breaks map flow.” No, it breaks CAMPING. That’s the real issue people who don’t use Jet Pack has. They can’t just stay in one place and wait for unsuspecting noobs to come around a corner. Nope. Instead they have to watch the skies to for a grenade or a well placed rocket.

So to elaborate: Breaks Map Flow/Control Allows for abuse to Map Boundaries/Camping Gives Height adv. They have clear shot on head, Whereas you can only see players feet Forces Players in maps such as Sword base to be played in one corner of the entire map. (Yellow Lift)

Heh, I’ll say rubbish back. It doesn’t promote camping. If anything it inhibits it by not allowing those who are ground based to stay in one spot without having to not only watch their fronts and backs, but now also their “tops.” And I’ve gotten PLENTY of headshots off of would-be jetpackers. True, some map boundries can be exploited with the jet pack. They can also be done with invis among others. It’s just where the boundries are exploited is the difference.

Fixes to the Jetpack: Remove from game Make it a Jump pack (Brutes from Halo 3 but FAR less height) Make it so it can only hover a feet from ground for a short time. Add a Limited Fuel System – You only get a set amount of fuel per life. Can’t fly forever

I won’t agree with the height restriction you want. However, I’ll agree that it should only last for a limited time. Really, anything BUT Sprint should be equipment. While you’re armor may always have a jetpack on it, in this case the equipment would be a fuel canister to enable it to fly for a limited time. Same as invis should be a very limited amount of time as well and should only be picked up.

Your Call 343: So we can continue to have this gimmick in the game which will almost certainly break map flow and become the new armor lock causing havoc in the forums, or you can fix the obvious flaw and make the game flow and play well Your Call. Discuss.

Gimmick? Really? It’s a game. Get over it. We’re talking about 500 years in the future. Super Soldiers with highly specialized armor. They SHOULD have jetpacks. This is Sci-Fi. Not REALISM like CoD.
If you’re going to go the route of gimmick then you’ll have to dis much of any of the halo games. Shields? Not real. At least not in the way they are applied specifically in Halo. Super Soliders? Brain and body augmentation (again to the degree spartans are, not just drugs like steroids). The whole game is gimmick. But it’s fun as hell with those gimmicks. Give me MORE of them if anything. Open them up. I want to see what Spartans can REALLY do.
I don’t always use jetpack. Only on maps where I think it’s more appropriate then other loadouts. If 343 were to take jetpack out now, it would be a huge step backwards. Armor Lock? Yeah, that’s a good move taking it out of the game. But not jetpack. Dont’ you like to feel like “Boba Fett” from time to time?

-HFFL