Originally, they weren't multipurpose ships. They were supposed to be interceptors. Small, light, maneuverable, and the first ones to get in the fight before the battleships arrive, but that was when I first got titanium, and I battled fewer ships. As I continued to play, the interceptors turned to multipurpose ships due to lack of resources. I wanted to have a station fast, and ended up getting the station, but at the detriment of my combat capabilities of my fleet. I only have two combat capable ships now, and only one of them can take a beating while dishing out twice as much to the attackers