The point still being it's not a ship which should be available to IN. The problem with your rival argument is that one can only have the same amount of AC counters on the table as the LB they have. So there is no point to "not even come close to aboats" because whether one uses bombers or aboats, it's still the same number of counters on the table that both races have to deal with. Aside from which, bombers are more the threat than AB.
I'm not clear why you think that crippling enemy ships has no effect on the game. Granted, blasting things with bombers is effective, but taking Chaos Space Marines and doing hit and runs is a pretty effective tactic too.
And we know this is how Nids play. You seriously are telling me that Nids won't be able to harm an IN fleet which is heavy on the AC side? Is there really a difference is one fleet list has a bit more AC compared to another list which has more turrets when fighting against a Nid fleet with claws, acid or boarding torps, ABs and lots of escorts?
So, say in a typical 1,500 point match, Gothic list can bring say 12 LBs while retaining gun efficiency. Bakka can bring 10 LBs using the Mars+Jovian combination while having a bit more turrets. Tell me the difference cause I am failing to see one at the moment other than one has more AC and the other more turrets.
So who is missing the point now?
Because you can't take that list now because you got Jovian thrown off the list, so now you only have the 4 on that Mars? Somehow I don't think that having 1/3rd as much fighter coverage is made up for with those turrets.
Since people seem to be vague as to what can be taken at this time, IIRC:
Emp with Rath
Vicky
Vanquisher
Retribution
Cruisers-
Tyrant
Lunar
Gothic
Dominator
Endeavour
Endurance
Siluria
BCs:
Mercury
Mars
Armageddon
Escorts:
Sword
Havoc
Viper
Cobra
Now, how does this list feasibly take on an AC heavy list like 'nids? (since they're going to be the foe that Bakka will think of when they look at acquiring ships.)
Reminder: we don't have any special rules, just +1 turrets for 10 points.
Personally, as far as I can see, it's up a creek against an aboat list. The extra turrets will help a lot against bombers, but against hit and runs it's pretty screwed. Since fighters can escort aboats, turrets won't have as big an impact on how many hit and runs you take and nids can generate a lot.
I hate to say it but at 1500 you're probably looking at 8 lbs max and making a decent gunline. So, looking at fluff, let's take it in a different direction. Let's ditch Rath, and take this as the fleet 'after' Circe.
Looking at it from a AAR, Bakka lost due to two things. Not being able to counter the large amount of 'nid ordinance, and not being able to get clear when things went south. Both of these factors contributed to the fleets near annihilation at Circe. Only due to a tremendous asspull by Rath did anyone get clear at all.
So, we see a glaring weakness
The two traits we would logically see are increased AC defenses (or, if they had brain one, increased AC) and increased speed.
Good candidates for this fleet:
Excorcist: Has good firepower as well as LBs and would appeal to the big gun crowd as an old warhorse from the 'good old days'. Many players have suggested it as a logical LB 6 ship, Bakka might be a good place for this variant. It would draw less flack then the Jovian, and be explained as being war surplus from another sector.
Siluria: Good all around CL, makes Endeavor unnecessary.
Vicky: Fast, long range BB.
Mercury: Fast, long range BC. Good flagship for CL squadrons.
Cardinal: Heavy cruisers are an oddity in IN, but it's fast with good firepower, both making it attractive to the big gun lobby in the wake of Circe
So:
Retribution
Victory
Vanquisher
Cruisers:
Lunar
Gothic
Tyrant
Siluria
Schismatic
Heavy Cruisers:
Cardinal
BC:
Mars
Mercury
Armageddon
GC:
Exorcist
Escorts:
Havoc
Apostate
Viper
Cobra
I'm sure you're all wondering why the Apostate and Schismatic are in there. (Or arn't because you already think I'm mad anyway)
The Apostate fills in nicely for the absense of the Falchion and firestorm, though it's weaposn will need restatted, as stands it's too powerful, and is based off the same hull as the Havok.
The Schismatic provides a high speed torp based CL that also carries lances, eliminating the need for the Endurance.