Kasumi GotoThermal vent beam for one cannot counter the thermal load of gauss cannons, and also has a tendency to make it harder to see the heart once exerted, especially for other players. Those are the two main reasons.
The beam is also not for controlling weapon thermal load in active fighting but to keep heat level low and shield strip as you kite an Interceptor and/or approach it.
A straight-forward answer. That makes sense.
I had been using heat sinks sparingly because I could get the heat reasonably low with my beam and my "staggered" firing. (Related to my previous acknowledgement that I need to improve my skill with fixed weapons. LOL)
Right now I have two heat sinks, a caustic sink, and a enhanced xeno scanner. I replaced my Shutdown Field Neutralizer with the Enhanced Xeno Scanner this morning, thinking I could avoid the field with either boosting and distance or staying cool. Go figure that instead I found myself facing my first rebuy screen for this ship.
Perhaps I should just add a third heat sink, if I don't benefit from the xeno scanner? And, if I do, then I imagine I should do the recommended practices of using heat sinks continuously while firing gauss? I just run out so fast!
(Keep in mind, this is all in reference to AXCZ)