Would the DBS ship kit fix the fact that it has weak acceleration, is too drifty, and bleeds speed like a sieve, and hence it's way too slow to out run at least 4 highly popular medium ships that can shred it to pieces? No? Okay. No sale.
They made the right choice focusing on the Chieftain. No one flies the DBS anymore and for good reason. Even with a paper canopy, the Chieftain is far more functional than the problematic DBS. I agree though, the Chief canopy does need a recall.
I wasn't aware the DBS had fallen so far out of favor. But then, I don't keep up with a lot of the PVP stuff. Interesting.
As for the Chieftains canopy, I guess some one is going to need to make a video (maybe I'll do it with a friend) of letting someone shoot the canopy with a single shot from a small or medium railgun, PA, etc. on a Chieftain, FAS, DBS, DBX, AspX, Clipper and record the damage. Of course, that will only show if there is a problem with the amount of HP/integrity the canopy has if the Chieftain's damages easier... that won't do anything to prove a problem with the hit box being too big (if it is). Sadly, I'm not that great at methodological testing.
From a pure logical/artistic standpoint, I can say that all those people that say the Chieftain's canopy SHOULD be weak because it's a Lakon "bubble" canopy are wrong. The canopy on the Chieftain does NOT stick out as much as the ones on the DBS, DBX, Asp Scout, and AspX; also, it is only "exposed" on the top half vs. the full bubble on those others. So it definitely shouldn't be that weak. It also shouldn't be as easy to hit as the ones on the DBS and DBX - there is more front surface area that is non-canopy on the Chieftain than there is on those two ships.
Sigh. Hopefully someone can prove it needs a buff and the devs will fix it. I may give it a try, but I'm no Kornelius Briedis...