Hunters are great characters. I got mine to 31 in beta and I could solo with my pet mobs up to 4-5 levels higher then me. Of course I wouldn't recommend it always as an add can pretty much wipe you out.
Hunters are great pullers. All you have to do is set your pet on a mob let it hit the mob a bit, you blast away from a distance, then get close enough to mend your pet back to health, wash, rinse, repeat.
Also a great technique in group is to set your pet on a mob, let him agro and then recall your pet back bringing the mob to your group for some nice a$$ whooping. :) For those who think hunters are not made for group, they are wrong. They are just as stronger if not stronger then any other class. You want to pull agro from one of your tanks or healers, send your pet after that mob. Depending on the pet you have (i found bears to be great tanks) it can do some major damage. Add a little wing clip and some stun shots from those mobs trying to get away...well you get the pictures...don't rule out hunters in group, you will need one!
The hunter is great solo and in group. PvP might get a little rough but if you can play this class right, you can be just as great in PvP then any other class. There is so much ******* a hunter can use especially later on in the levels. One of the best combos in Pvp for me was to group up with a rogue.
I played Horde but it should work the same for Alliance. Position your rogue in stealth at a strategic point, wait for some unsuspected soul to come down the road, send your pet out, blast away from a far at the party and then have your rogue appear from behind backstabbing...instant death! :)