That tendency was early. But, as I moved to the DA, my games have taken to using it a lot more often than not.
Angel ECM. Bloodhound Probe. Streak LRMs. ER LRMs. I have a campaign where I took the notion of each world having a hidden depot of collected Mechs from the disarmament program, decided that Clan Tech should be base, and go up from there for the Front Line units in the Republic, and then staged a rebellion after the blackout.
People with the know, brought the advanced stores and started outfitting old Mechs with advanced tech before the operation was discovered.
Dag nabbit, it's fun seeing this stuff operate. And, now I'm wanting to take things further with mere extrapolations of existing tech, but trimmed down in size and weight.
As well, I've been thinking about intermediate tech that gives some improvements to old IS weapons for use on vehicles that are still 2nd line. IS ERPPC with Clan damage output, and one step in between that does head-capping damage (12), for example. Clan LRMs with no min as expensive ammunition type, versus an intermediate up-scale munitions with a slimmer minimum of 4. IS ER Large Lasers with clan range. You get the idea.
edit:
Oh, and the notion of De-milled BattleMechs being used as industrials. Imagine Phoenix Hawks running around as Firefighter Mechs, Police Mechs, or even as loaders. Then, they get re-armed, as-is, with hand-held weapons in a pinch.