my brawler can kite a medusa all day with its ~1300 range hypervelocity drivers =P (ITU + sensor), same goes for the hound. for laser guys theres the wolf / tempest / vigilance ( which can increase their beams to ~1000 with optics+ITU+sensor ) and just lol all over anything that isnt equipped with a hypervelocity driver / light/heavy needler.
the issue is that frigates, unlike destroyers, can easily slip into attack range and unload a few volleys and receive almost 0 retaliation fire due to being able to quickly backout and strafe, and being much smaller that a destroyer are much harder to hit, especially at the increased ranges they are firing at.
now that frigates arent going to be receiving said bonuses, they actually have to come closer to their intended targets, so they might actually receive retaliation fire. =P