So I just started this questline which seems very intresting. I declined to give the town some cash when i talked to the mayor, so he wanted me to help the village in some other way and asked me to hunt down some vikings. However, before i could do that, someone else killed them and failed my...
Seriously though. It's all about practice. Next time you are lancing, try to release your mouse button a few moments earlier than usual, it takes quite a while to thrust with a lance, especially the greater ones.
Just because they fixed a bug doesn't mean archery is dead. A bow is very dangerous in the right hands. I don't think many skilled bowmen used that bug often, I know I didn't.