Is this summary correct?
There are, potentially, six parts to each ranged attack
1) Attack delay
2) Attack Animation
3) Recovery delay
4) Recovery Animation
5) Reload delay (?)
6) Reload Animation
Dexterity bonus/malus affects Attack Animation, Recovery Animation and Reload Animation by the formula (No. of frames divided by (1+ Dexterity bonus/malus)
The other bonus/malus to attack speed in game only affects Recovery Animation, or Reload Animation if stated. These bonuses are additive, i.e. if you have a -50% attack speed and a +20% attack speed bonus, the multiplier would be (1+0.5-0.2)=1.3
If the above is correct, I have some questions:
1) Are the frame delays the same throughout all weapons?
2) Do the dexterity bonus affect the frame delays.
Personally, I think the frame delays are a quirk of the engine or just error when measuring.
OR
We could just ask the developers once they are less busy with fixing bugs (which should be the priority now)