So, if the Mining Blaster changes happen (to whatever degree), what does that do to the Phase Lance? The (shown) Mining Blaster gives up about 20% sustained damage and 100 range but gains hard flux against shields and
waaaaay better anti-hull damage (at way better efficiency). The Phase Lance will kill fighters better but I don't think that's enough of an advantage to make it competitive. Technically, this has always been the case, but the Mining Blaster was so horribly flux inefficient that it kind of ruled itself out. Now, at 1.0 efficiency, it squarely beats the Phase Lance in an anti-armor role.
As an off-the-wall suggestion, why not increase the RoF of the Phase Lance while leaving the actual armor penetration alone? Beams half as long in duration but firing (roughly) twice as fast? It would overkill less on fighters, while shooting more down, making it a bit more of a generalist. As an aside, why is it flux inefficient? I hate that a lot of Energy weapons are homogenizing to 1.0 efficiency but I don't understand why the Phase Lance pays a premium to fire when it does soft flux. I've also argued it could use 700 range but that's an entire suggestion entirely.