Weighted knives can already bounce off a hard surface then into an enemy. The gloves just make it so it can bounce twice before hitting an enemy and the second bounce adds heavy tracking. Not typically something that matters in pve since you're not trying to bounce knives around corners. Hunter survivability depends super heavily on dr like woven mail, frost armor and amplify. So finding a way to stack those and keep them going is key. Also its worth noting that using ascension to make clones is best since that keeps it in line of soght of the most enemies. You can also use tools like blind disoriented and the smoke bomb to give yourself some breathing room in tough spots. As you've noticed using -blam!- Orbs are really the main way to heal unless you're on solar, making health an important stat. when theres no ads and only a boss your really in a tough spot and want to have an attrition orbs weapon going. Otherwise you'll be stuck peak shooting the whole fight. Also worth noting this means the brawn modifier is especially rough on hunters since orbs won't heal much. For brawn the best healing option is facet of blessing on prismatic and silk strike super since that counts as melee kills and can be used to top off your health pretty easily and the super has a shorter cooldown. Also try to meter you transcendence and super so you always have one of them going. If you burn all your abilities at once you'll be in for a rough time. I stck to my hunter through thick and thin, but if you're trying to do hard content and hunter isn't working out absolutely switch to a class that can do it easier if it keeps you having fun. No point in torturing yourself if you're not having fun. You can absolutely keep up with the other classes, it may just feel like you have to do more to keep up. Also if you're on hunter its basically mandatory to try out some lucky pants shenanigans