I disagree. If you handed took the entire technical data package for Intel's latest chip, hopped in a time machine and gave it to AMD of 20 years ago, they would be a couple years before they could get it into production. It's not a matter of making a Clan spec medium laser. It's a matter of making the tools to make the tools to make that Clan spec laser. Phalen described the workshops on the Dire Wolf as being far superior to anything he encountered in the Sphere.
Not only is it a matter of the tools to make the tools, working with new materials means a learning curve. Clan Endo and FF are more compact, suggesting greater density and strength. How do you drill a hole in that stuff now? There are a thousand little lessons like this that only come with experience, as you tool up for full rate production.
I disagree with your disagreement. Operation BULLDOG saw to the annihilation of clan Smoke Jaguar. With that, the Star League had access to the whole of Huntress, the jaguar's homeworld.
The SLDF had access to Huntress orbital factories and all the personnel used to manufacture clan technologies. It is one thing to reverse engineer something without knowing what processes were used to create it. It is another to have access to the factories, the scientists and technicians needed to do it.
And I don't believe, even for a second, that the scientist would not disclose the information. The jaguar's warriors were disdainful, if not outright violent, of any lower caste. Especially where freeborns were involved. With their clan annihilated, their hated masters killed, don't you think they would allow their conquerors knowledge of their technology?
Wouldn't the SLDF take them to the IS, and through bargaining or simply brainwashing gain all their knowledge?
Nah. Having the IS tech lagging behind the clans, even 100 years after Operation Bulldog its an editorial decision. For me, it doesn't make sense otherwise.