Mixed on the no BR in ODST myself.
On one hand, I have no particular love of the xxx4shotxxx, and feel it distils the game down too much. I like the BR, but Halo, before I started playing MP, was always about great weapon balance, and how you play with the 'cards you're dealt' so to speak. There shouldn't be a 'best' weapon, in my opinion.
On the other hand, if Firefight lives up to expectations, it could be the awesome, sandbox longevity we all crave. This could be one of the greatest high points of the series, and we could be playing it for a long time. And the thought of the highest point in the Halo series, not having the option of a BR, seems sad to me.
Overall, i'm cool with it.