[dogscoff]

THe other advantage is that cargo/ fighter bay components are generally cheaper than weapons, so you can build your mini carrier faster than an equivalent warship. The ship's "weapons" - ie the fighters - can be built simultaneously on non-spaceyard planets.

I often build boarding ships with a fighter bay and space for a few shield-depleting fighters. That works fairly well for me.

You should play Devnullmod, which has a cute, small, fast "escort carrier".