ROC pattern Storm Eagle

i gotta say i rather like this unit.

as opposed to the original variant, which is 225pts to start and comes with the TL Heavy Bolters and vengeance missile launchers, the ROC pattern is 295pts. this is because it comes standard with the 60pt TL lascannons on each wing option the basic one has.

so what do you get for the extra 10 points?

• the vengeance launchers have been upgraded to fire 4 twin-linked Krak missiles, instead of the usual firing of 2 Str 5 large blast missiles.
  
• you also gain the Strafing Run rule, which lets you fire at BS 5 versus any land-based opponent, except flyers and skimmers.

other changes include:

• extra armour, if that's your thing, is only 10pts instead of 15.
  
• transport capacity drops from 20 to only 14 (fluff says its due to the added sice of the better missiles and the extra fuel reserves)

I'm not a fan of this variant.
I find that if you want airborne lascannons/krak missiles, you can get two vendettas and have extra points to spare. (though only with allies, so there is a valid argument there)

also, one of the major bonuses of the Storm eagle is that it is an assault vehicle, so reducing carrying capacity = meh

this is true, but as far as rules go if you want to use 'that' model, the Roc variant is a far better choice over the standard one for anti-tank hunting. this is what all SM tank hunter flyers should have for guns and HP really

No. AV 12 and 4 hp is ridiculous. 3hp at most.

The key to its weaponry is PotMS. It has enough to down 2 fliers a turn.

4HP fliers are silly, they're hard enough to kill as is without additional protection from glances.

It just seems like so many points for an av 12 vehicle.. flyer or not.