A while ago I wanted to make the most agile Corvette I could, keeping speed above 300 / 400 boost. The first attempt (in Engineers v.1) ran from a 4A powerplant OC G5 (i.e. made of paper), two lightweight cannons, a 4Ly jump range (that was boosted by synthesis), low power shields, you name it (as in name what was not in this death-trap). It was scary to fly, could leave you stranded with its 4 ton fuel tank.
I gradually improved it until it became a fun PvE ship- very fast, very agile...but frankly it was pointless mainly as it acted as a giant Vulture, impossible to miss.
After that, I then bought another and made a hull-tank Corvette which was fun, if slow and pointless. I eventually made it a hybrid shield hulltank, but because it was such a large target that was a non starter too.
So, sadly, after lots of fun I simply made my Corvette as others do- although ED gives you the tools to have fun and made each ship individual at the same time each ship still has an 'ideal' configuration that it can't live outside.