barely function is the issue. for their cost and restrictions they are a joke and bolster is a requirement
They'd be fine in any other faction.
They feel weak because they have to be overpowered to compensate for the huge gaping holes in UKF's faction design.
Either they need reverting and UKF goes back to being the Section Spam faction, or Relic needs to give up on this stupid 'no indirect is a good idea, honest!' design and give them basic tools.