I don't think one should *have* to switch manually, only that he should be able to *choose* to do so if it is tactically prudent. The switch could happen automatically, only that it takes up energy points on top of the attack. (I also hate the crap I have to deal in some other roguelikes, for instance that I have to use a command to open doors. Why?)
One of the reasons why archery is overpowered in ADOM is that you can do it while wearing two TWO TOWER CRYSTAL shields and gaining the benefits of both. You can't shoot a bow like that! You have to put down the tower shields, and that should cost energy points.
Anyway, talking about balancing Archery in JADE would require previous knowledge of how powerful Archery will actually be in JADE - and as far as I can see, it doesn't seem like it has even been implemented!
Balancing ADOM... Considering that only a bugfix patch has been hinted at, it doesn't seem likely that there will be a patch with fixes to game balance. It's off-topic anyway.