Damn your awesome american prices....our dollar is stronger and yet the prices are still like 20% higher here in canada
Truth be told, there is some pretty common rules of thumb for dauntlesses, and they are as such.
-Lance Dauntless is best in larger game, where it can operate at high efficiency when crippled (all it loses are a bit of speed and a bit of weaponry, but due to rounding up rule not much) and doesn't require SO to be effective
-It does work really well with firestorms as a powerful lance pack that can get where it is needed.
-The torpedo dauntless is better in smaller games, where its superior frontal armament can get strong ordnance to where it can do the most harm and SO are not at a premium
-All light cruisers work best with other vessels, but not necessarily in pairs like other cruisers. As has been mentioned, lance dauntless es work well with both firestorms and each other, whereas torpedo ones work well with cobras/falchions. The Voss pattern light cruisers (endurance etc...) work well with each other but also with full cruisers, where they double as maneuverable rear guard and additional punch without full cruiser price. Such as an endeavour with a pair of lunars, where it can intercept enemy torpedoes with its own weaker ones and lend enough battery to the broadside to let the lunars really shine. It can also soak up shots for them or hide behind them as the situation demands.
Kind of an unnecessary rant, but hopefully this will help with your decision.
Also, strike cruisers are underwhelming without the powerful SM escorts and battleships to fight alongside them. They just do not function that well with regular IN vessels.
