I agree with Schwartz. With the exception of Heavy Blaster and maybe a few beams, I would use ballistics over energy almost every time. Energy weapons need to be competitive with ballistics for hybrids (and universals) to work.
Small mounts: For anti-missile, Vulcan. For general PD, maybe some PD laser, maybe LMG, maybe Vulcan. For assault, light AC, light assault gun, railgun, or light needler. AM Blaster is useful as a Reaper substitute (for the flagship only) if you have no Missile Specialization.
Medium mounts: For PD, (dual) flak cannon. For everything else, lots of options, mostly ballistics but Heavy Blaster is the only reliable energy option that competes if I need DPS or type coverage more than range.
Heavy mounts: All-purpose, Mjolnir if I have spare OP, Hellbore or HAG if I do not. For dedicated kiting-and-sniping, Gauss Cannon.
P.S.
But is an Aurora really noticeably *better* than a properly kitted out Dominator?
Aurora actually works best as a missile ship. Otherwise, it is slow, oversized Medusa without the Phase Skimmer. It is squishy and has no shot range. (If it uses beams for range instead, then it is hard-countered by most ships with shields.) It is also a plump, juicy, and easy target for any ship with longer-ranged ballistics.
Dominator, and maybe Eagle, is more effective than Aurora, except maybe Reaper Aurora piloted by a player with max Missile Specialization.
P.P.S.
What makes ballistics better than energy weapons is generally a combination of superior range and, often, cheaper OP costs. Compare non-beam energy weapon range to ballistic range. Light energy is 400 or 500 range. Ballistics are 600 for the medium-grade stuff, 700 for railgun, and 800 for needler. Also IR pulse laser is 6 OP. Light AC/LAG is 5, and railgun is 7. For medium, energy range is 600. Even the worst ballistics have 700 range, and the best have 1000. For Heavy, Mjolnir! 24 OP (I think) with better stats than Plasma Cannon (30 OP), except DPS (533 vs. 600), which still exceeds Heavy Blaster. If I cannot afford Mjolnir, Hellbore and HAG are almost as good, and they cost less OP (16 and 20 OP) - just need to remember to use another medium weapon not as good as Heavy Mauler to back up heavy high-explosives.
P.P.P.S.
For anti-missile, nothing beats Vulcan and Flak Cannons. Flak Cannons are cheaper than Heavy Burst Laser too, and the usable beam PD costs more OP, whether builtin (LR PD laser, burst PD) or needs hullmods to be made effective (PD laser, tactical laser).