What's is the point of certain weapons in SE:IV?

[Starhawk]

Ladies and gentlemen the I-Las

Name := Imperial Laser-Beam I
Description := Focused energy beam used as a Long range weapon.
Pic Num := 320
Tonnage Space Taken := 25
Tonnage Structure := 25
Cost Minerals := 300
Cost Organics := 0
Cost Radioactives := 100
Vehicle Type := Ship\Base\Sat\WeapPlat\Drone
Supply Amount Used := 5
Restrictions := None
General Group := Weapons
Family := 2000
Roman Numeral := 1
Custom Group := 0
Number of Tech Req := 1
Tech Area Req 1 := Energy Stream Weapons
Tech Level Req 1 := 13
Number of Abilities := 0
Weapon Type := Direct Fire
Weapon Target := Ships\Planets\Ftr\Sat\Drone
Weapon Damage At Rng := 85 85 85 85 70 65 65 65 65 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Weapon Damage Type := Normal
Weapon Reload Rate := 1
Weapon Display Type := Beam
Weapon Display := 11
Weapon Modifier := 0
Weapon Sound := apbeam.wav
Weapon Family := 1

Excellent range, good damage will carve you up and spit you out. Problem is it's expensive and it definately alters space battles!