The Clan Large Pulse Laser has the same damage and heat, better range, less tonnage, less crits, no minimum range, and a bonus to accuracy. The PPC is absolutely not safe.
If the CLPL costs 4x as much to maintain however..........
Just sayin, ability to produce something finally still doesn't mean there isn't a cost multiplier in there or that
some units still haven't incorporated clan tech training to their technical staff to the point that its the "standard".
As for the OP Topic:
Bit late to the party, but, I can think of a place where I would use Clan Tech even at the cost/maintenance & it's been where I've been using it since they showed up.
Custom Omni Loadouts.
The Bulldog models are actually a solid option/concept for limited deployment of hard to maintain tech.
As a Mech Company, if you're making something like the Hauptmann-O or even the Clan Crossbow-O you've got a nice durable, fairly easy to maintain platform.
And you can have nice common loadouts using easily available parts.
But, you can also have a "break in case of emergency" configuration for doing things above & beyond the day to day garrison jobs.
Another way to use it is to consolidate it into the units that are able to maintain it.
All support for Clan Tech in terms of Supply Chain but also Advanced Technical training might for example be devoted the the Davion Guards.
Slots for special schools go to them & graduates go to them etc etc.
Any Salvage or new purchases from Clan Sea Fox or even limited production from Exostar is all devoted to the DBG regiments.
Not really a Front Line v/s Second Line sort of split, more like, Spec Ops v/s Regulars, but in this case its the Royal Guard.
Your Hussars/Lancers units can still be top of the line sporting new Devastators & NightStars fresh off the factory lines, while your March Militia is sporting 300 year old Marauders upgraded with Refit Kits, but your Guards can be outfitted w/ Templars & Avatars that have access to a full array of pod loads including SB-Gauss or Clan ERPPCs etc etc.