Ok...

[douglas]

I haven't play STM, so I can't give you much advice on it. One thing I do know is that it reduces the power of sensors and ECM so they aren't quite so important. For the stock game, though, try this:

Start a new game with high tech start. Design your favorite ship without combat sensors and ECM. Make a copy of that design with combat sensor 3, ECM 3, stealth armor 3, and scattering armor 3, taking off whatever you consider least important to make room. You can also try it without the armors. Go into the simulator and simulate a battle between equal numbers of the two designs. Observe which side wins and by how much. Maybe then you'll see what I mean.

Edit: For maximum effect, set the second design's strategy to Maximum Weapons Range. Leave the sensorless design at Optimal Firing Range, or even change it to Point Blank (max range would be suicidal for such a poorly equipped ship).

Edit2: You're not using missiles, are you? Missiles in the stock game are quite weak past the very early game, and are very easily countered by point defense cannons. They also are unaffected by sensors, so they would render this little experiment meaningless.