Flechette Cannon indeed works with Tactician. However, it would not, were an Astromech Cannon combo possible, combo with R3-A2 as R3-A2 would stress the ship before FC did.

5. It only costs 2 points. no need for target lock, you can use it repeatedly, etc.

I think M3-As with these are going to be a nightmare. control used to be expensive, now it is dirt cheap.

On an M3-A, it costs 4 points, not 2. At double the cost of R3-A2 or flechette torps, I don't think dirt cheap is an appropriate summary.

I am referring to the cost of the cannon and the delivery vehicle, which is a lot cheaper than anything that can take a stressbot

Ion does force the one straight, but that's all it does. you still get your action, but you do not if you are stressed.

Playing devil's advocate here, ion makes you incredibly predictable and easy to block, therefore easier to stop actions. (but then you are figuring using a second ship as a blocker in order to add action denial)

and ion cannon costs 50% more, does not effect large ships unless you hit them on 2 different turns, etc.

...or ion them twice in one turn (no single ship can do this, so in order to pull this off, you now have to dedicate 2 ships to control. not an apples to apples comparison. I'm talking about what a single M3-A can do with less than 20 total points. you are talking about twice as many points at least.

More than anything else, now you can stress and ion cheaply and repeatedly, turn after turn.

2 B-wings w/ Flechette cannon, Tactician

2 Y-wings w/ ion cannon turrets, BTL-A4

And the above list is your whole list. again, I am talking about doing the same thing with less than half of your list.

Ok, have no mastered the art of the multi-quote but I think you can tell what's mine above. the point is, you can do these things much cheaper with the syck, you can add control for much less than what it costs on other craft. (Although I will say that a GSP with a 360 ion is awfully good, and you can add the stressbot)

But i dont think there is a cheaper way to add control than an 18 point syck with flechette and heavy syck title.

Ok, have no mastered the art of the multi-quote but I think you can tell what's mine above. the point is, you can do these things much cheaper with the syck, you can add control for much less than what it costs on other craft. (Although I will say that a GSP with a 360 ion is awfully good, and you can add the stressbot)

But i dont think there is a cheaper way to add control than an 18 point syck with flechette and heavy syck title.

And there's a reason for the cheapness: It has only three hull behind three green dice at PS 2. It dies (nearly, because of the one shield) as fast as an academy pilot. So if your opponent focusses fire on it first, what are the odds that you can stress more than one ship?

Soontir Fel thinks your little popgun is adorable.

Ok, have no mastered the art of the multi-quote but I think you can tell what's mine above. the point is, you can do these things much cheaper with the syck, you can add control for much less than what it costs on other craft. (Although I will say that a GSP with a 360 ion is awfully good, and you can add the stressbot)

But i dont think there is a cheaper way to add control than an 18 point syck with flechette and heavy syck title.

And there's a reason for the cheapness: It has only three hull behind three green dice at PS 2. It dies (nearly, because of the one shield) as fast as an academy pilot. So if your opponent focusses fire on it first, what are the odds that you can stress more than one ship?

Unfortunately, once you're paying 4 points for a cannon, it's not much of an ask to pay two more and pick up the Mangler.