Yeah, I probably would skimp on Apogee's medium energy mounts if they cannot aim forward, although I probably skimp on them today already if I relied on plasma cannon. Between Active Flares and tough 360 shield, it does not need weapons for anti-missile.
Does anyone think Ammo Feeder is overpowered on Lasher? No? Then High Energy Focus should not be overpowered on Tempest, especially since 1) it got more expensive to use (as much as killer phase frigate that can abuse decloak invulnerability frames like in a fighting game) and 2) it is stuck with inferior and inefficient energy weaponry. Up until now, Tempest best strength is confusing the AI with its drone, otherwise, it is a variant Wolf that has omni shield but cannot skim. If the drones cannot roam anymore, then Tempest might not be able to confuse the AI as well.
Plasma cannon, looks like it would be a more efficient, rapid-fire heavy blaster, sort of like a rapid-fire rocket launcher in a FPS. Probably still no match for Mjolnir, but perhaps Plasma Cannon will be practical to use, unlike today.
Autopulse getting 30 charges by default will be like with free Expanded Magazines today. Then again, the only ship that will be able to abuse multiple lasers is Paragon, since Odyssey will only focus-fire two instead of three, and Apogee cannot concentrate as many guns forward.