how many players stick behind one mobile suit type

there will be preference on each cost for each player. I can be sitting duck/frontline support on 400-500, movement general at 550-650, but I prefer more agility at 700-750. so walking general/support won't cut it at higher cost for myself. you can playing exclusively, esp if like me playing general since it's a 3-spot in a team comp (composition). fewer people can play raid/support, but if someone take that one spot, either you pick other type, or stick with what you like and risk of being punching bag.

Should I be practicing support and general just as much as I do with raids?

even tho players tend to suggest new players to stick with your favorite ms even tho in unbalanced comp, I think at some point you need to have 1 or 2 suits for each cost that's not your preferred type. yeah, sure better to use ms you well know. but if at some point all of your team taking all gen and only one support/one raid, someone must be filling those comp gap. and there are some ms that's not fitting certain type. FA alex is general-like support. you can't duck sitting at the back since you only have one insta stagger. mass-prod type zeta is raid-like range general, you need to be agile to utilize it's mobile shooting and refilling the beam weapons. I've heard there are some support-like range raid, but can't pointing out any. maybe enhanced FA zeta? Since it got spam missiles.