What if Kalista...

Was a melee champion.

I think it would work much better.

Passive - Although it would still be annoying. When she jumps, you could move the other way and avoid further damage. It would come with a lot of counterplay to the power. Current Kalista can stay in a middle range, just far enough you cannot get her, but close enough she can keep attacking to keep getting jumps. Sure this takes some skill. But if that makes it OK. Then lets have the old Leblanc back. She took skill and was at a low 40's winrate.

Q - Nothing special would really change.

W - Other lanes would make better use of the ghosts. Bot lane has the most vision as is. This gives it a level of overkill. I understand it does have a long cooldown. But it is still a lot of extra vision. It's overall a lane your jungler is best not even trying to gank. While top/mid it would be much more limited and easier to deal with. The passive damage would lose some worth. But that can always be adjusted.

E - Would need some tweaks as she wouldn't be able to stack them as easily.

R - Only change I'd make is that activating it would make her immune to damage(maybe cc?) but she could no longer use basic attacks. (Can still use other abilities).

This change of course would come with some increases in base stats most melees would have. would probably still be annoying when played by someone skilled with her. It just doesn't feel like a kit that should of been on a ranged carry.