I've been following this site for a while and registered because a few things hit me while reading this thread that I really wanted to make a note about.

In all honesty, the more I think about melee combat, the more I see why you would only use it if you were forced too.

First of all, the faster mechs are generally going to decided the range of the fight, also, the faster mechs are generally going to be the smaller mechs. So if a light mech pilot wants to kick an Atlas in the shin, he's got something to consider, the Atlas has more armor on one of its legs than the light mech has on its entire chassis. So if the light mech wants to kick out the Atlas' leg, he's probably going to have to kick the same leg several times in order to achieve anything. Conversely, one well timed backhand from the Atlas is going to end the light mech's quest very, very quickly. Considering the immense risk for the light mech here against the reward of crippling a mech that, quite frankly, wasn't moving all that fast to begin with, I'll take my chances ducking between gauss slugs at a range.

As for that picture of the Atlas punching the Warhawk (the arms make me think it's a Warhawk anyway) in the face. As hilarious as that is, I think it's pretty safe to say that the laser on the Atlas' arm doesn't work anymore. There's another drawback.

Finally, someone said that they didn't want to see mechs constantly lumbering through their AC/20 rounds to engage in melee combat. If that happens then you deserved it. Shame on you for standing still the entire time and letting him get up on you.