The ability to affect a wide area then... what are the current figures for the Guardian and the Subverter?
What is also odd is that Sins offers more defences against short ranged attacks than long ranged attacks, which helps the long ranged attacks even further, since they also lose less time when they have to switch targets. I'd like to see the less utilised support cruisers provide extra defence against LRMs- perhaps the Overseers could phase out some missiles, the Dominas cause interference between phase torpedos fired at the same target and the Cielos deflect beams with an energy grid or glitter? Some counter to Illusion might also help (scouts?), as that makes the Illuminators very strong, and counters are preferable to downgrades. The Subverter could have been balanced by a stun counter...
It seems better to have more options, rather than continue to downgrade the ones that exist, to the ultimate advantage of a single type of unit whether LRMs, LF or heavy cruisers. The support cruisers are very expensive and vulnerable, and could use more abilities.
I suppose extras aren't included in patches though... I just wouldn't want the effect of having to balance the original game- often by downgrades, like the Subverter- to affect the options for the expansions, which I'll want to buy when they're available on disc. I'd buy the original again, if there was an Entrenchment version!