1. With immunity to critical hits and the PSI +40 defense ability and playing defensively I find the extra defense here non noticeable. You only need 3 enemies to max out the crit as well (less enemies) which makes this is win.
2. Lightning reflexes is extremely situational on Normal difficulty and utterly worthless once you get gene work done. Close and personal turns your assault into the only Sectopod slayer in the game. With heavies losing their 50% extra damage to machines and sectopods gaining huge defense in Enemy Within there isn't a sectopod slayer (save for MEC's cheesing mines or using fist) in the game. This makes this skill pick a no brainer for me.

3. Flush is utterly worthless and double shot is extremely useful. Walking up to a Sectopod and using a free shot from "Close and Personal" and then using "double shot" will allow the most solid damage output with the best % chance to hit vs a Sectopod in the game. Sectopods are the most difficult enemies in the game. Period. There is not a lot that does well against them. Period. With the skill load out that I use, the assault is situational vs the most difficult enemies in the game. Making an assault your savior in the hardest parts of fights and a spectator the rest.

4. Allowing a free shot on enemies closing within 4 means the assault in the front can and will kill every chryssalid coming at you and will also allow you to cheese Berserkers. You shouldn't be fighting more than 1-3 people at a time and everything dies with a double shot. Moderately useful situational skill vs slightly less than moderately useful skill. Both weaker skills, one allows me to be more aggressive with my assaults.
5. Higher crit chance on Run and Gun VS no more critical hits landing on you... FROM ANYTHING... No-brainer here as Run in Gun should be used when all else fails, not as a "go to".