Haven't played it myself but I'm wondering why it is not popular and what exactly is the problem with it. Statswise, it is actually the most defensive vehicle(armor, cover 1, surge:block, immune blast,melee) so throwing it out, why does it seem to not work?

As an Imperial player I hate the thing. It can routinely get into back lines and can really wreak havoc on troopers with suppression.

I think a lot of folks though overestimate its survivability though. It's a piece that should activate later to avoid taking a lot of fire and shouldn't charge down the middle. In the battle reports that I've watched, I'll often see someone fly it straight into the maw of an atst and a couple of speeder bikes. It's not going to do much besides get blown up there.

10 minutes ago, draco193 said:

In the battle reports that I've watched, I'll often see someone fly it straight into the maw of an atst and a couple of speeder bikes. It's not going to do much besides get blown up there. 

I played a game recently where that exact thing happened. I think the airspeeder only got one shot off before it got blown up. I was the imperial player though so it was very enjoyable! ?

I have only ever faced 1 of them (in 3 games playing as imperials) my opponent didn't run it straight down the middle, but did sweep it down the back edge in a disarray setup, but again straight at my AT-ST. It didn't get off a single shot. My impression is that Muelmuel is correct, it is a very defensive unit, but it needs to be flown very defensively. It cannot withstand focused fire, so it needs to avoid any units with impact attacks unless you are very confident it can take them out before they can fire. Stay out of arc of the AT-ST, and the death zone of impact grenades. But against units without impact, it is a terror. Target Vader, Speeder bikes or troops without rockets and you can clean up with it. I play X-wing primarily as Imperials, and you have to fly with the same mentality. Get your attacks of opportunity, finish targets if you can kill them before they can attack, but first and foremost fly defensively, even if it means losing the opportunity to attack.

It’s a cost thing too. 175 is a lot for a unit that can evaporate if it gets caught in a bad spot.

Speeder bikes are not quite as durable, but they have similar maneuverability, the exact same offensive output (with surge) and are half the cost.

You want it to only be in range of one or two units at any one time and stay away from rockets. Happily the Imperials seem to have decided their missile launchers aren't much use which helps.

Once your forces are engaged you have more choices- given a flamethrower AT-RT at close range or the speeder, most people are going to prioritise fire on the RT giving the speeder some breathing space. Either that or watch their units go up in smoke.

Han is going to help with his 'reckless diversion' drawing fire to him or a trooper unit rather than your speeder.

Remember to use your compulsory move to displace units. You have a big base so it should be possible to cause some suppression.

I haven't lost a speeder yet, but like Xbeaker said, flying defensively and giving up shots is part of flying it (I think) well. In my last game we were using 'the long march' and I ended up sending it in a holding pattern by making a series or left turns to avoid closing too quickly with the enemy line and speederbikes. It meant that when it engaged it was with damaged speeder bikes and suppressed infantry at the same time Luke and the troopers were launching their assault.

The cost is very high compared to speeder bikes but you know how it is: fight with the army you've got, not the army you wish you had.

Indeed I found better success keeping the airspeeder with the battle line on my second attempt using it , although I paired with the ATRT laser cannon