Personally, i think the RL refits were a product of its time. Basically, they Marians need to add much punch to old introtech mechs, as acess to more advanced technology was dificult at best (without the help of WoB at least).
Now, in the Dark Age, the marians are making such advanced tech (at least things like AIV and Light Ferro). It is my opinion that RL, now, should be mounted were they belong: fast stuff that can unload them at a back of a mech and run away to rearm.