I agree with Taera, PPB should be a "special" support weapon, and not a main super weapon.
That's why I think that they should not be more difficult to research but have a lower damage ratio, no matter if that's achieved by lowering damage, increasing tonnage or increasing reload time.
Most complains are from people that is too used to use it as their main weapon, and fear that their strategies will crumple once you take away the weapon they depend on.
You have the same problem with AI.
Many of the best AI races use or abuse the advantages of PPB, and if it's changed they will suffer.
Changing the data files locally for a personal mod does not solve the problem, unless you want to edit every AI race, what would be a great mod. Removing the advantage in PPB, although it enhances overall balance, will certainly disrupt the status quo, and AI races will have to be updated accordingly.
That is why we're discussing and trying to reach an agreement.
If we can find a simple solution that most players like, then we can submit it to MM for inclusion, next patch in the official game.