... and no ship (Except the despised Epee) has killed more pilots than Crossbow.
Well, maybe Talon did. But Talon's a civilian ship, so it is another story.
But Crossbow...
No burn, no side turrets, no chance to evade an attack once it not so mighty shields are blown...
Later modifications of Raptor would always be better bomber than this ugly flying target (I mean Crossbow). And Sabre (while not so much armored) has much more chances to survive an attack on a cruiser.
Just an experience of Mjav:
Here's Fralthra. We're attacking it with a non-burning bomber. We do live long enough to close for first torpedo strike, all right. We've launched the torpedo, out front shields (and hald armor) are already blown , for we're crawling like ... I don't know like what or whom. We're turning back and crawling away to start locking the second torpedo, and our rear shield and two thirds of armor are blown - for we're ugly, slow and unable to dodge an attack... We're starting the second torpedo run - and get annihilated before we get a solid lock. So here goes mighty Crossbow. A nice flying firework, nothing more.
And if we have a Raptor or a Sabre? We have a torpedo lock, burn close, launch a torpedoe, and burn away without a scratch - for we're fast and nimble, too fast and nimble for turrets of the cruiser.
Now tell me. Which bomber is better? The one which survives the attack it is made for? Or the one which is blown out of the sky not having completed the task?