As for the ReLasers --- I've played a couple more games...
And as part of this, I asked my opponent to use a few of the new Kurita BA --- and that's where the ReLasers did do more than regular mediums.....
Why? Because my Kimodo, despite hitting with all 10 mediums in one round, completely FAILED to take out a single suit of BA --- One squad of Zou Battle Armor pretty much ate 10 medium lasers..... one suit even caught 5 of the lasers ... yes, it was hit with 5 medium lasers and LIVED --- because, reflective armor halves damage, ROUNDED DOWN, meaning that 5 medium lasers does 10 damage.... and the Zou has 11 armor....
If, for no other reason, that's a good enough answer --- when a Prey Seeker, at 15 tons, is more effective at dishing damage, than a 45 ton mech.... then maybe, just maybe, there's a reason.
Against just about anything else on the field... yes, multiple mediums are better.... but against reflective battle armor, I want some ReLasers. Even my Clan Nova had issues.... since my much vaunted Clan ER Medium lasers, were suddenly reduced to 3 point hits, and I watched a suit of battle armor eat 3 of those..... For the Zou, your choice is having MANY mechs, using heavy autocannons, Groups of PPC's or Gauss Rifles, or massed LRM strikes, trying to take them down... or an insane number of mechs with lasers trying to nickle and dime them to death... or get the laser that can, at least, do enough damage to make it worth while to bother shooting at them......
Against the Zou, 5 tons of ReLasers can kill one --- 5 tons of regular medium lasers, cannot.
Honestly, without ReLasers, the Zou can pretty much OWN any portion of the battlefield it wants to hold.
Nahuris