there's always another ship which can be equiped to fit this role better if you force it
Wouldn't it be better just to have more variety in ships then?
yes and no
1. and most importantly, having more ships does require a huge lot more of work than this upgrade system
also it will be hard to keep a unique feeling to every ship the more you introduce
2. More ships would still mean that the older, weaker ones aren't usefull anymore when the game progresses and you loose variety again
btw, another good example for the outdated modelthing is the enforcer class destroyer
it is a good craft but gets outclassed by the medusa class destroyer
they are the same type of ship, they look very similiar and control similiar
but the medusa is far superior in many ways
twice as fast, nearly double as efficient shield, 1.5x flux capacity, double the flux dissipation (without any vents), it has turrets that cover it's back side!!!, it uses energy mounts
and it even has 2 small "equip what you want" mounts
the only downside may be the weaker hull, slight shield arc loss and... some like the ballistic mounts
Which role is that? I'm fairly new to the game, but I've spent a good dozen hours with it already, maybe more, and the only role that the Hound is suitable for that comes to my mind is "cannon fodder".
cannon fodder is a role too... it's a cheap ship anyways XD