I never was really big on archery in skyrim or any ES game for that matter, and this is the first character that I am really using it, but I'm not so sure that the crossbow is all that much better than a regular bow.

Early game, sure, its easy to obtain and its base damage is nice and high, but past that, I'm not so sure that the crossbow is better like so many people have said, going as far as calling it overpowered.

The crossbow is great and its increased chance of stagger is awesome, but for general use it just takes to long in between shots, really making the increased chance for stagger not all that significant.

Anyway, what do you think?

It's not better, it's more powerful, while the bow is faster.

It's just nice to have the option. Can't really see a Bosmer with a crossbow, but perfect weapon for an Orc. And they just require different tactics, the higher rate of fire perhaps suiting a pure archer while the increased damage might be better for an archery/melee hybrid. Whatever suits your character. I have an Altmer vampire hunter who uses a crossbow as joining the Dawnguard perfectly fits this character and she wants to fit in with those of a like mind, and I do find the initial attack nice and powerful, but switching to melee is necessary more often.

My sneaky archer tends to use crossbow against single powerful enemies (to get one very powerful shot in quickly, as the bolt is already loaded, taking advantage of the stealth multiplier for that first shot to do as much damage as possible), and bow against multiple weaker enemies due to the quicker draw speed and quietness (she's more likely to remain undetected for longer using a bow, and can take down multiple enemies quicker without alerting ones that are a bit further away).

It is wrong to say that one is better than the other, because they have different uses - they are both good at the thing they do best.

Once you perk it up it is really powerful. My enhanced dwarven bow flawless plus dwarven bolts is 96 damage. with my archery circlet it 120. I just sneak around and ruinn people. But the bow is way faster

The reload speed in not the main problem, the main problem is the forced reload animation after shooting, this makes you an sitting duck if its any danger of return fire, yes you can move but very slowly, it faster to draw an bow, you can abort at any moment and run for cover after shooting.
See the crossbow as an sniper weapon, more so I feel its easier to hit targets far away with it.

One final point, if you improve with smithing you improve all weapon an similar amount, this makes the relative difference between bows and crossbows smaller.
glass bow: 15, dwarwen crossbow 22 , crossbow is 47% stronger. with smithing 100 and relevant perks you get an +10 in damage. bow 25, crossbow 32. difference is 28%
With smithing gear and potions this difference is even less.

The reload time is quick enough for this to be a regular weapon.

However, I feel like I am using a gun. I mean I like it and all, but should I like it in this game?