I'm a big fan of strong shields and energy weapons. I never used upgraded bulkheads until I saw a Vulture build Flip did and I thought they sounded cool. I didn't notice much of difference in the Vulture. Partly because it is so maneuverable, and partly because I run if I lose shields. I finally learned about power management and how to use SCBs with the Vulture, and now I think SCBs are mandatory if you want to stick around in a RES and make money.
When I upgraded to the Python, I had the strongest shields, big pulse lasers than can keep firing forever, and SCBs for when I start losing shields. I had great results with this setup. I could often go for an hour in a HazRes w/o needing to fire off an SCB. Then one day I thought to add military grade composites. The next time I went out I could barely turn and was getting pounded. I limped back to the station, went back to light weight alloys, and everything was back to normal.
Since then, I've never upgraded bulkheads, and I've never used hull reinforcement packages. In the Python and Anaconda, I can stay in a HazRes until I get tired and never lose shields. I think they turn just fine. I do use SCBs, but I could just as easily run away and let them recharge with time, but using SCBs means more credits per hour. On the rare occasion I do lose my shields, I turn and burn for the nearest station, as I've usually taken some hull damage.
So I'm reading these load out and configuration threads about various ships. There seem to be a lot of complaints about how badly some ships turn. But then I look and there are invariably heavier bulkheads and hull reinforcement packages added, and I wonder why? Do you hang around after losing shields and let your armor get pounded? Do you not notice better maneuverability without the heavier bulkheads and armor? I could see using them in some critical mission where you had to stick around until all the enemies are dead, but I don't think they have those situations in this game. Or, do you add all this armor, have a hard time turning and staying on target, and then run when you lose shields anyway?
And on a related note, if you have been using the bi-weave shields, how do the C-rated bi-weaves compare to A-rated standard shields? Do you lose shields more often? Do they regenerate so fast that you can stick around, as long as you have stronger armor to absorb some damage while they are regenerating? They never sounded like something I wanted to try, and never even bothered - even in the beta.