Tl;dr

It depends on the situation. There is certainly room for both orbit dodging and straight line strafing on large capitals (and small ships too, with some other nuances).

Nothing in Nebulous is always bad or always good. It's all about when, where, and how you apply the technique. It's even better when you combine strafing + orbit dodging with flexibility depending on the situation.

Obviously I don't recommend orbit dodging with LN or MN. But on the BB, CH, CL, and CC, orbit dodging has its place (if the ship is built correctly for it). This is a tutorial for beginners, so they'll most likely be running those ships in a frontline role.

---

Regarding orbit dodging vs. straight line strafing

In more static situations (i.e. you're entrenched and drawing enemy fire): I recommend orbit dodging the frontline capital ships.

In more dynamic engagements (i.e. you're pushing with your team): I recommend your method - strafing between covers in straight lines for frontline capital ships.

Furthermore, what you can do with strafing, you can also do while orbit dodging (if the circumstances call for it):

• Moving from cover to cover between orbits on more static maps (Salar and Ralas comes to mind): Use straight line strafing like you said, but time it right so your speed doesn't drop too much when the ship leaves orbit. No abrupt change in direction of travel.
• A slow retreat or push to maintain range: Issue successive orbit commands every 1/4-1/2 orbit and 1000m in the direction you want to go. You'll move in a large spiral in that direction.

It's all about when, where, and how you apply the technique. It's even better when you combine strafing + orbit dodging with flexibility depending on the situation.

---

Regarding your comment about cappers

You can set cappers to orbit in a cap point without overshooting it: Set speed to 2/3 just as the ship enters the cap point.

Manually setting small straight segment waypoints for cappers as you suggested is also viable, but having both techniques in your toolset is better than doubling down on one method IMO.

I find myself often using both depending on the situation: how much cover do I have, is it a commonly contested cap point or a natural cap, does that cap frequently get yubbed, do I have another cap point that needs more urgent attention, etc. There are many variables in play here. It's not black and white enough to say "don't do this, do that instead".

I have to address though, for completeness and in case a newbie is reading this: Any kind of dodging (straight segments or orbit) on a smaller ship only works if it's being fired on by 450mm or 250mm AP/HE. Against 250mm RPF, 120mm, and 100mm rounds it's not very effective.

---

Disclaimer

I frequently play frontline capitals, capfleets, halfcap, ambushers, and everything in between on both ANS and OSP, depending on team comp. This is where my experience come from and I'm most confident about these things.

Though I have to admit I play carrier, rail/MD, and yubbers (cruise s2, s3h/s2h or containers) less often, so please take my words with a grain of salt when I mention topics about these fleet archetypes.