[Baron Munchausen]

You are forgetting the effects of seekers. A stack of missiles seems to hit 'all at once' just like a stack of fighters, doing HUGE damage totals in a single hit. So, as with most things in SE IV, there is a way around the 'unbeatable' Crystalline Armor.

Also, mixing shield depleters with standard weapons will go a long way to screw up the advantages of CA. I've never seen a hit with a shield depleter recharge shields. Just 'interleave' them with your standad weapons so they get fired alternately and you've got something that will be much more effective than standard weapons alone.