Melee accounts tend to be better...I'd pay more for a 99 strength pure than a 99 range pure tbh.. Range is hard to train and all, but it doesnt really do a whole lot once you reach a certain level. You'll start getting raped by DDS, whip, etc.
Rangers aren't very good in p2p, altho they really own in f2p.
You do need to have a little str for rune 2hnd switching.
but still my weapon of choise in f2p is a bow
Sorry, but i disagree with this comment. I feel it's much harder to train melee than ranged as if your training with ranged you can use a cannon and iron knifes, even without a cannon you can fly from 1-40 within a day. Whereas with melee, say if your training def and have low strength and/or attack it will take ages to level up.
I reckon melee is worth more, depending on what melee stats have been trained.
Go melee. #1 a great maxed melee pure will sell way higher than a ranged pure any day. #2 if you want to go range, it's almost too easy once you have a cannon.
A maxed melee pure will take a bit longer to train than the ranged, but the tradeoff is a lot depending on your patience.