A lot of skills prioritize targets themselves over controller input

Even though you use the right stick to target the direction in which the target is located , the targeting system will override this input and target a closer target instead ... that is not an issue with basic melee skills but once you try skills with a very specific range it becomes a hassle real quick .

For example i dished completely using Glacial Cascade because it was impossible to target that Elite i just frozen 5 meters away due to all the mobs 2 or 3 meters in between that made the targeting system attack those instead ...

+1
In addition to the issue you're facing(which I face too) there's another one related to auto targetting that I face.

It's so frustrating stacking atkspd/faster reload on my xbow explosive shot but the merc decides to jerk around unsure on who to aim at(with a click click click SFX each delaying the shot) till it eventually picks one(variable time everytime it happens) and shoots as I hold the shoot button while also choosing a direction with my R joystick. This gets increasingly frustrating the more low hp enemies are in a given direction. Need option to toggle to completely remove any form of auto aim and just shoot in my R joystick direction.

I assume we are not meant to/or maybe not expected "press and hold" these shots? Since the assault rifle type shots work fine, these other base single ammunition ones when attack button is pressed and held works jank as mentioned above.

I just find it really not fun to press attack for each shot. Which makes the jank thing happen less.

Yes we should have an option in each skill to be toggled ON/OFF to override the targeting system if we wants to . In fact such an option exist when using Frost Wall ( in the advanced settings of that skill : "Held Targeting" ) but it is not what i expected it to be ; "Held Targeting" is similar to when we have to place the "bombs" when doing an Expedition so such a system is not fit for fast action combat at all ...