At this point, you're just looking for people to agree with you, even if I give you a solid counter argument, you wouldn't take in any of it at all. Just for kicks though... 1.) This is obviously a game with progression, especially of items and gear. They give a Lascannon by default so no one is helpless against vehicles, and allow a player to a progress into other AV options such as a Power Fist, Meltagun, Krak Grenades, Melta Bombs (and bundles), and anything else. There must be a default starting point. If the melta was the default, then new players would be useless on fortress defense maps against vehicles. With a lascannon, they may not be the best AV class, but they are perfectly viable, even on fortress defense maps. This leaves room for new players to improve their equipment, while holding a starting point that's always useful. 2.) The lascannon is a completely viable weapon. It has long range, OHKO ability against infantry, is accurate, easy to understand and use, is weapon that won't put the user in heavy danger, and it's on a class that would get wiped in melee ANYWAY. Again, it may not have the highest alpha damage (such as a meltagun/meltabomb combo), but in usability and dependability it is by far the best option. It even allows newer players to keep their distance from the threat so they aren't just deleted in closer range combat that they probably haven't gotten a grasp on yet. That isn't even mentioning it's usefulness in sniping infantry (if the player has some skill). The lascannon isn't worse than a meltagun, it's just different. 3.) For 10,000 req (last I checked) we can just buy a meltagun without any "what if" fuss, and good players (even new) can get that much req in 3-6 games. That isn't a long time at all. As for newer/worse players, yes it may take them longer, but that goes for anything in this game. 4.) The meltagun isn't even a great AV weapon unless you pair it with a Krak Bundle or Meltabomb. New players won't know this, by the time they do they'll have plenty of req to buy a meltagun. In addition, even if they DID know this...they won't have the meltabomb or krak bundle yet, by the time they do have those two things they will have enough req for a meltagun. The lascannon is the best "default" option here, it's usability, low skill floor and ceiling, and low threat level for both the enemy and the user allow for a consistent experience that a new player can learn the best from.
1 Progression is fine but having a team that can actually be viable is far more important. A team of players who only have lascannons for AV is easy to stomp by hiding your vehicles behind any cover. 2 The lascannon is not great on normal maps, if anyone remotely competent parks the vehicle then no long range will ever see it, they will have to go into enemy territory with no defense against anything because they are a worthless heavy class that can't kill anything else. Melta on the other hand has a pistol and knife/knuckles to defend themselves and they already seek the vehicles. 3 I already covered this. No new player WANTS to be on AV duty so they will not want to save up 10k just to buy a melta. The entire point is get NEW players to HELP the team by performing a very under-appreciated job that is extremely vital so that we don't end up with entire teams who ignore vehicles. 4 Melta is great on its own even without bombs of any sort, just aim for the back armor and you will wreck any transport in around 3-4 full charges. Plus you START with meltabombs on all 3 of the factions in the game (the only 3 factions: Orks, Chaos, and Loyalists) but they alone are not AV viable because you throw 1 and then walk away which doesnt kill a vehicle...blah blah blah I covered this already so not repeating it Also what do you mean "low threat for the enemy"? Everyone can see the laser line and everyone immediately targets the fool using it because it is literally a beacon of "hey guys I'm dangerous if you ignore me so I'm giving out this warning so you can do something"
The Rokkit Launcher is even better than the Melta, it wreck vehicles and infantry super-efficiently. It has a long range downside but so does the melta
