It's the only turret/gimble/"wide-arc"/non-hardpoint mount on the ship so yes! It seems like whatever you put in it, it have the same abysmal turn rate which absolutely cripples even the fastest turning weapons into the ground (or space so to speak). It's a first time I had come across an issue like this where one particular ship/mount - no other - have such a problem as far as I'm aware. As for high maintenance, the ship in my mind is too weak to suit the role you describe? To me it's clearly a fast capping recon frigate, maybe escort one at times. Lovely early addition to boost up your sensor range while keeping up with the wolves if you wanna go with a blue themed fleet.
Ah, I see! Well it explains it, but they do still show up in game. Just as wrecks (seen A LOT of badgers floating in space) that are unrecoverable. So perhaps the badger is still quite prominent?
So a clarification. The Hail's and pirate versions (including fake XIV) spawn in the SP mode, while rest is Kadur exclusive? What about the weapons, since they show up. The 'degraded' versions are easy to find on the markets across the sector - while from ruins & stations I had quite often got the heavy plasma cutters and the like.