Exactly what does the stealth ship have to reccomend it?

[Eyjio]

Didn't know about the bomb-shield thing, though I think I'd still rather have the 2 lasers as they're good on normal enemies too. Still amazed at the re-loader thing, it seems so cheap.

[TheAzryte]

It starts with really high engines and stealth and not shields. That's the whole point. If you don't like it play the kestrel. Every ship is not for every person. They don't need to be "equal"

They really do. Every ship should have the same chance. If something is taken away, something of equal value should be given.

If every ship had an equal chance, why bother unlocking extra ships? That would mean the Kestrel A has the same chance as a fed cruiser, or unknown ship. Different ships have different play styles, this gives them unique advantages and unique disadvantages, making all the ships equal would spoil a portion of the game: Attempting to get better ships to find new ways to play the game, an extra challenge, another adventure. By making all the ships equal, there's not much point in having the what, 18 ships? (There are 9 ships, plus the B layout which can be considered another ship as it can have a different playstyle) For instance the Mantis cruiser B, you're only attack is to board the enemy, which gives you an interesting an challenging, but fun start, and a solid end-game ship, it would be terrible if that had as equal a start as some other ship.