I feel a direct fire weapon (aka not a bomb) that can bypass shields might be too powerful. X, B, A, Z, E, TIE/D, phantom, TIE Adv could all go down in a single attack. I think it would become an auto include.

That's why I think an anti-shield weapon that is normal/less potent against hull would be better. You give r2d2 something to think about, but tie swarms and r5d8 don't care.