I don't know if I'm a hero... I do still die a LOT. Some games more deaths than kills. (In fact last night I was particularly rocked by a good team that worked a fantastically frustrating cross-fire setup in a large open area. Whenever I entered there I was teamkill fodder before I could reach someone. I'll have to work on a better strategy for large areas.)
Still, I think it's the ACD/0 equipped arms that help make a difference. Most people think they suck... and they DO... but if I'm punching some dude all close and he gets pissed because all the shots he's fired at me hasn't downed me yet... then they punch me... and that sets off the small charge. I die.... then they die. And I'm credited with a melee kill. It must look like lag to the opponent... but it's not.
From my experience, it takes 3 clean punches to down an opponent who has full health. Punching is a pretty quick repeatable maneuver... and I think it also causes a bit of knock-back on the enemy so that they may no longer be aiming exactly where they want to be. It's easiest to find someone who is up along a wall... they have no where to run back. Sprint at them.... slide to evade the headshots... start your melee barrage... maybe not die... start again.
Here's some stats from my PSN destiny tracker. Sorry I don't have video.