I've read/heard it's more or less a downgrade from the basic shoota due to accuracy/recoil issues. Is it worth wasting req and getting one?

Its a for fun weapon. But yeah it is out performed by the shoota. The only time big shoota outperforms is at really short, almost melee range, and thats tough to pull off consistantly.

I wouldn't use req to specifically buy one, just wait till you get it in a box. Even then, I'd wait until you get a heavy barrel mod to use it.

It's a niche weapon that's better than a shooter when you get the jump on multiple people (thanks to its large ammo size and superior point-blank dps), but worse than the shooter in every other regard.

You get it out of the 12K loot boxes anyway, so I wouldn't bother paying 16k to get it directly.