It's not hard to be a competent hunter.

Your competency is not represented by your guild's progression.
Your competency is not represented by your epic collection.
Your competency is not represented by your arena rating.
Your competency is not represented by your pet.
Your competency is not represented by your DPS meter.

DPS meters and raid logging programs are only of use by two kinds of people, raid leaders and ePeen strokers. A DPS meter can help a hunter find problems in their playstyle and gearing but so can websites like be.imba.hu and mods like Ratings Buster. At that point is a meter really needed? As long as the trash is dying, the bosses are dying, and there are few (if any) wipes then the group is doing FINE.

Your competency is directly, DIRECTLY represented by two things. Your skill in playing the class, and your ability to consistently not be a stupid hunter. Why so many people are unable to be a competent hunter is beyond me. I'll even cut a break for the people that can't master the jumpshot:

• Unless your pet is tanking, offtanking, or the main tank requests you do so; DO NOT enable growl in an instance or with a party.
• Unless you have absolutely no choice, DO NOT melee. An instance is no place to be leveling your staff skill, do that on your own time.
  
• Unless you are trapping behind the party, DO NOT run away from a mob that's aggroing on you. Use "feign death", freezing trap, your pet's intimidate (if talented for it), or just drag the mob back to the main tank.
• Learn to jumpshot. If for whatever reason you can't, learn to use maximum range, traps, distracting and concussive shot to kite as much as you can.
• DO NOT forget to bring at least one stack of food for your pet at all times.
• DO NOT forget to bring at least one stack of health potions, mana potions, and your own drinks.
• For the love of pete, DO NOT FORGET TO BRING ENOUGH AMMO FOR THE ENTIRE RUN.
  
• +SPI and +STR is not a hunter's friend. I understand that while leveling you will end up being dressed like a clown but please stay away from Spirit and Strength. If you need mana regen that bad look into buying wizard oils to apply to your weapons.
  

It's not hard to be a good hunter. Not hard at all.