Minor wall of text; you have been warned.
Even after the update, I don't really think a "cheap and easily replaced" fighter should be 80 bucks.
My biggest beefs with it ATM, compared to the 325a and Avenger, it's "closest" comparisons, IMO.
1) All size 1 guns. Even the 300i has 2 size 3 and a size 2. Avenger demolishes it with its size 5 nose cannon.
2) Pretty weak main thrusters on paper, but no one really knows how thrusters scale yet. But still going to get run into the ground by the M50. Possibly Avenger too, since Avenger (ATM) is about 50% heavier (although I expect the weight to go up just a bit since it's supposed to be pretty well armored), but packing a TR5 engine.
3) Dumbfire rockets. Now, maybe these are more of "anti-armor" weapons for use on slower and bigger ships for strafing runs/softening them up for bombers. But if they're not oooooh boy I'm 100% stripping em off for some Heatseekers or something.
Now, Gladius does have some upsides. A size 4 powerplant in something this size is insane. That's the same powerplant a Super Hornet and Cutlass have, but in a ship running a fraction of the engine and weapon draw. Gladius is probably designed to be a very user friendly fighter, sort of like a "my first combat ship". Maneuverability looks excellent with such a low weight. And it looks sexy as fuck. And 6 months of insurance is pretty sweet too.
Overall, I'll need to think over whether I want to get a Gladius or not. Right now the stats don't seem to justify dropping 20 more bucks than an Avenger. For 30 more bucks I could just get a Hornet, which is probably going to be the gold standard for single man combat ships.
Then again, there is something to be said about having a ship that you don't "mind" losing (since it seems from all the lore that it's very easy to repair or replace), great for a very risky escort or combat mission where you really don't want to take your pimped out Hornet or Cutlass,
TL;DR Gladius looks pretty cool, but I don't feel that the stats justify the price compared to the 325a and Avenger.