We do need to make them sustainable enough that we can replace them if necessary once our warchest of re-useable exotics gets used up.
This is the use case for combining our three types of defences.
A holofield to avoid most shots
A grab shield to intercept most of the remainder that get through
A vehicle focused version of the conversion field to catch anything that leaks through*
The expense of replacing exotics helps justify investing in expensive defences
* it seems a bit cheeky to have a conversion field for a space superiority fighter with the expensive, slow to attack, and power hungry flaws, in return for compact, rugged, and Fast Recharge.
... Honestly, given our distinct weapons, coloration, and down the line--even our hullforms, I can actually see the Imperium steadily realizing there's at least one Space Elf faction that's mostly been playing Ork Whack-A-Mole rather than murdering random humans for Existing.
The Imperium canonically can't tell the difference between 40K Dark Eldar and Craftworld Eldar, despite the rather significant difference in appearance in attitude.
Sometimes this leads Imperial Governors to try to bargain with Kabal Archons like they might with a Craftworlder or Corsair and be horrified when the sudden but inevitable betrayal happens.
Yeah. The Star- and Fate- weapons are fucking fantastic, but we simply cant produce enough of them to be the standard on ANYTHING. Not when we need hundreds and thousands of vehicles and soldiers. Not right now.
I think we need to settle on either the Needler or Spiker for a standard issue weapon in the near term. They are only around 50% more costly than las- weapons and seem more effective.
And in the medium to long term, pick between either Starcrystals or Fatescopes to focus down on.
To be honest, it's possible that star blasters are just so much better that a group of mechanised power armoured elites with them are just as effective or more as hundreds or thousands as many troops with mundane weapons as they are so much more survivable, flexible, and lethal.
It's not a given that we need a large relatively poorly equipped army to be effective. We could have a small one which pound for pound is so much better that quality beats quantity.
That would certainly be my aesthetic preference.
