Case in point, the Germans had an automatic “rifle” if you still (machine/Gatling gun), before the allies in WW2.

I think you're referring to the MG 42, which was feared by the allies. as it had such a massive firerate, and despite being inaccurate, was still pretty effective, and definitely demoralising. The Stuka divebomber sound we all know is there solely for the purpose of scaring people. The planes had "Jericho Trumpets" to make the terrifying sound. So the Nazis aren't unfamiliar with terror tactics. With that I'm trying to point out that while the MG 42 was effective and feared, it was pretty much effective because it was feared, not because it was somehow technology the allies didn't have.

The Allies had for instance, the Vickers K gun, capable of similar and higher rpm. The MG 42 suited the strategies of the Germans, but not so much for the Allies, so similar guns weren't really used by infantry, despite the tech being there. They had some of those on planes to protect bombers from fighters. For that, a really high rpm and some inaccuracy is great.

m so primative compared to the intericacies of other common modern items like computers or smartphones

Well, one is electronics, and the other is firearms. You're really comparing the complexity, yes, but the guns being somewhat simple don't make them primitive. Some of them are actually pretty astonishing feats of engineering. Putting together some metal in a way that you can then blow up the metal contraption in a way that doesn't break the contraption but propels a projectile at something. And doing it so well you can use it literally thousands of times before even having to mend the contraption.

But yeah, it is inane that we still focus so much time on this completely inane business of firearms. There's really no need, if we can all be adults and just not shoot each other. I'll much rather focus on the information technology. It can be weaponised as well, if need be, but it isn't so inherent to it's nature.

So called “gas powered” weapons have been proven to be effective, reliable and resilient.

Well, I mean, sometimes "gas powered weapons" do actually mean weapons propelled by pressurised gas, not explosives. Eg air-rifles. Which sound like kids weapons, but are far from it, and were actually used in war since the earliest firearms. Here's The Girardoni air rifle from 1779. A repeating air rifle with a 20 shot cartridge. It had a manually pumped reservoir that gave the gun the power to shoot 30 shots effective at a 125 yards (114m). 50 caliber balls, at about 600 fps (152 m/s) muzzle velocity. Proved too difficult to manufacture the reservoirs and required extensive training as it wasn't a common weapon. Would've had better technology, but economics and lack of training prevented it from becoming "meta".

That’s not ideal, but it’s better than losing your personnel who represent hundreds or thousands of hours of training, and cannot be replaced on an assembly line. Simply put, human assets are a limited resource in any conflict, so the fewer losses to manpower, the better the outcome regardless of all other factors, since a new drone or missile can be created in a week or a month (even six months or more) which is less time than it takes to make a new person, allow them to develop to the point where they can capably hold and fire a weapon, then train them… A process that can take upwards of 20 years or more.

That very much depends, tbh. Of course the troops are priceless, but... also, they aren't. Sure yeah, a person becoming a person takes a long time, but training a person to hold a gun and fire isn't too hard. During war, some equipment definitely are more expensive than some people. Which is why some people only get two weeks of basic training and the bare necessities, while others get to fly hundred million dollar planes. The training of those guys, now that's expensive, because you need the equipment to train them with. To train a frontline grunt, you just need the gun they're gonna be shooting with. And some good boots.

However, just pushing grunts out, as a strategy, isn't really a good one long term. Case in point; Russian orcs.

Which kinda brings me back to the point that the game is the same underneath, try to get boots on the ground in a place you wish to rule over or something. The tools change. When the tools are lost, tactics devolve.

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” ― Albert Einstein