Interesting.
A light infantry regiment exists to eliminate as many enemies as possible at range, to allow line infantry regiments to operate with superior numbers. They also work to take advanced positions that would be too dangerous for a clumped up group of infantrymen. If you think that any kind of skirmishing troop is intended to clash bayonets with line infantry, then you're less experienced than I believed.
Having lead both rifles and 'light infantry', I can state that they both work almost identically, with the 'light infantry' not having to worry about cavalry as much. Otherwise, they are the same.
And a recruit looking for any kind of light infantry regiment, rifles or no, is not looking to get into melee. Otherwise, I know of a few regiments that don't get into melee nearly enough to warrant calling themselves light infantry, and should clearly become riflemen.
Anyways, this is not the place to argue tactics. I've said my piece (That's backed up with almost two years of partaking in the light infantry adventure..), and it should be done.
Poll