Star Wars: Rebels

[Zixinus]

It would have been on the wall because Palpatine has been concentrating power to himself before the Clone Wars even begun. It is unlikely that he would halt that tendency then, why would he when he cannot lose? Dissolving the senate would be logical move into that direction.

As for the episode, I think it was mostly alright except the ridiculous charge in the beginning of the first episode. Then again, Mandalorian armor seems to be blaster-resistant (I think? I don't recall someone being shot with it on them).

As for Sabine not remaking the weapon: the selective deadliness of the weapon is too great a risk to be turned against them again. After all, if Sabine could change the configuration with a few buttons, more clever Imperial engineers could do the same with enough time. Allowing the weapon to exist in any form is too dangerous as it might be reverse-engineered and used again. Remember, the weapon is overall more deadly to Mandalorians than to Imperials. That risk is far greater than whatever advantage they would have in using it in battle.

[Knife]

Is there any reason Sabine wouldn't recreate that device but hardwire it to only murder Imperial troops?

Haven't watched the episodes yet, but it might be that the weapon reacts to the Beskar in Mandalorian armor... and I believe Mandalorians are the only ones who use it. Imperial armor instead is made out of plastoid compound that might be used widely including civilian applications.

So it's either a very selective weapon against Mandalorians, or an indiscrimite weapon against anyone but Mandalorians.

And going by the trailer it seems the weapon is an Area-of-Effect weapon and cannot be targeted at a specific object.

They also go way out of their way to show, in dialouge, that Mando's wouldn't give up their special armor to avoid the weapon. Utter silliness.

[Lord Revan]

Is there any reason Sabine wouldn't recreate that device but hardwire it to only murder Imperial troops?

Haven't watched the episodes yet, but it might be that the weapon reacts to the Beskar in Mandalorian armor... and I believe Mandalorians are the only ones who use it. Imperial armor instead is made out of plastoid compound that might be used widely including civilian applications.

So it's either a very selective weapon against Mandalorians, or an indiscrimite weapon against anyone but Mandalorians.

And going by the trailer it seems the weapon is an Area-of-Effect weapon and cannot be targeted at a specific object.

They also go way out of their way to show, in dialouge, that Mando's wouldn't give up their special armor to avoid the weapon. Utter silliness.

Silliness yes but not implaucible silliness, it's also made clear that mandos see the armor as signifigant part of the mandalorian identity and culture and would see having to give up the armor as defeat. While silly it is somewhat understandble.

[Kojiro]

As for Sabine not remaking the weapon: the selective deadliness of the weapon is too great a risk to be turned against them again.

Selective deadliness is precisely why you want to use it.

After all, if Sabine could change the configuration with a few buttons, more clever Imperial engineers could do the same with enough time.

Aside from the stupidity of that scene- implying the device was already built to specification and just needed some settings changed- either the Empire has the plans or they don't. If they have it, then you're right, reverse engineering is a matter of time and the only option is to discard the Mandalorian armour. If they don't, if the weapon is so unique only Sabine truly understands it, you'd be an idiot not to employ it. Especially given the whole 'we can't stand up to the Emprire' narrative. This weapon gives the Mandalorians the edge and the freedom the entire arc is about.

Allowing the weapon to exist in any form is too dangerous as it might be reverse-engineered and used again. Remember, the weapon is overall more deadly to Mandalorians than to Imperials. That risk is far greater than whatever advantage they would have in using it in battle.

I saw nothing to suggest it was more deadly to Mandalorians than anyone wearing Imperial armour, Sabine explicitly says it's not set to lethal. And again, either the Empire has the plans or they don't. If you're worried about it being reverse engineered strap a droid brain in there and program it to self destruct rather than being captured.

I can understand the whole 'this isn't our way' bit but that weapon is beyond useful. Imagine having one of them in a city occupied by Imperial forces? It could be hidden anywhere and cripple or kill every stormtrooper in the place. Perhaps it's not Mandalorian to use, but I suspect the Rebellion as a whole would fucking love the ability to incapacitate every Imperial in the area with a device the size of a large droid.

[Zixinus]

It was made clear that the Empire doesn't have the plans. Chopper and the lot made sure of that. If it wasn't, the whole operation was nothing much more than a set-back. The Rebellion is not in position to make demands on this. They don't even know except in retrospect.

The thing about selective deadliness, is that even if the Mandalorians discard their traditional armor (which was made clear they do not want to do and will fight not to do) then the device can be just set to their new armor. The only way to win would then just be to have the same armor as the Imperial forces, at which point the weapon becomes useless. Same if the Empire just changes the composition of Imperial armor. It is a temporary edge in the overall war.

And here's the thing: the Mandalorians can't afford that edge turned against them. Not just for cultural reasons, but because they are much smaller than the Empire. The Empire can afford refitting entire battalion because it has the entire galaxy's resources at its disposal. It might not even have to do anything as drastic as that, it could just bring in non-regular troops that already have non-standard armor and equipment. The Mandalorians would have to MAKE new armor and equipment, probably retool their entire war industry. During a war that already started and were not prepared for. That is something you can't afford strategically. Ergo, the edge the weapon would bring is too temporary and too risky in the overall war they are now waging.

[Zixinus]

Oh, and to add to that: their armor is superior to the Empire's. That is a very big, collective advantage while the weapon would only be a selective one where it is employed and employed successfully. It also justifies their strong attachment to it. The risk of re-making the armor-fryer (for a lack of better name) weapon would risk losing that edge. Not only their armor but possibly their heavier equipment that might also be affected.

Yes, you could make countermeasures but you can counter countermeasures. You can capture engineers working with the armor-fryer and copy plans. You can fool self-destruct droids or disarm the explosive inside. It will prevent capture the first few times but not in the long-run.

If the armor-fryer is not developer, the Empire has to develop it from scratch (even if only temporarily). The fact that they couldn't and needed to interrogate Sabine shows that they have little idea how it works. If anything, there is a bit of a plot-hole about the engineers involved.

[Lord Revan]

I can understand the whole 'this isn't our way' bit but that weapon is beyond useful. Imagine having one of them in a city occupied by Imperial forces? It could be hidden anywhere and cripple or kill every stormtrooper in the place. Perhaps it's not Mandalorian to use, but I suspect the Rebellion as a whole would fucking love the ability to incapacitate every Imperial in the area with a device the size of a large droid.

notice how that thing effects fighters and AT-STs in addition to stormtroopers, now imagine the number of devices in your typical imperial city, not that different from the hardware the empire uses, the collateral damage would be massive and I'm not just talking about bodycounts and broken hardware here either. The popular suppose for the "alliance to restore the republic" would take the nosedive.

There's a reason why Saw Guerra's band has chronic lack of supplies, in their zeal to attack the empire no matter who gets hurt in the crossfire they cripple their own logistical network by scraring away or angering any potential allies who could smuggle them supplies.

The Empire has the might that they can fire indiscriminatly into crowds (especially on outerrim planets)and not have it hurt their logistics too badly, rebels can't as they rely on people angered by imperial oppression and attrocities to provide them their supplies and hardware and due to operating permanently at limits of their logistical capasity due to fighting a much stronger force (aka the empire) any loss or disruption in the logistical network is a really big deal, not something you can ignore so as to not "appear weak".

[Kojiro]

notice how that thing effects fighters and AT-STs in addition to stormtroopers, now imagine the number of devices in your typical imperial city, not that different from the hardware the empire uses, the collateral damage would be massive and I'm not just talking about bodycounts and broken hardware here either. The popular suppose for the "alliance to restore the republic" would take the nosedive.

I didn't see it affecting any TIEs. They were in the hangar, in the background, but there was nothing arcing to them. I did see it arc to the walkers but it also showed the pilots inside being zapped. In fact every time we see a bolt it's going to a person wearing Imperial armour.

Even a few seconds later, when they ask what's going on, we can see TIEs and an Imperial shuttle in the background untouched by the weapon. I mean, it's a weapon designed to target personal armour. It shouldn't be surprising when it does indeed target personal armour.

It was made clear that the Empire doesn't have the plans. Chopper and the lot made sure of that. If it wasn't, the whole operation was nothing much more than a set-back. The Rebellion is not in position to make demands on this. They don't even know except in retrospect.

I'm not sure it was mentioned if its existence was shared, but I'll take your word for it. If the Emprire doesn't know about it, it's even more valuable. The fact it doesn't need LoS and seems to have no trouble passing through walls/hulls makes it the perfect weapon to deploy to liberate a city- an attack the Imperials can't hide from that will seek them out in they're in the AoE. Hell, as we've seen, it's easily made mobile too- probably help a lot with boarding parties and who knows if it could even be used to gain space superiority?

I mean, you could employ the weapon nowhere near Mandalore. Take the Mandalorians completely out of the equation, have the weapon show up as something that wrecks entire garrisons that no one survives. Give the Empire no reason to even associate it with them and just use it as a tool for the Rebellion to even the massively unfair odds against them. Imagine if they'd had one of these things at Scarif, Echo Base or Endor?

[Lord Revan]

You do realize that pretty much 100% of the rebel ground assets are repurposed imperial gear? If the weapon targets just personal armor then it's even more of liability to the rebels as they don't have the logistical capability to make their own gear. bare in mind that during the episode there wasn't even who wasn't a mando or imperial who did wear body armor and was uneffected by the weapon. Also as it's stated several times before that weapon is far less useful against imperials due to the simple matter that they're capable and willing of changing the the composition of their armor if that's needed.

It's a terror weapon made to target specifically mandalorians and is near useless elsewhere, since the it's highly unlikely that "stormtrooper armor" is that different from "local police force armor" or things avaible for private citizens to buy on planets like Tattooine, hell we've seen in canon rebel (well technically members of Saw Guerra's band but still) using repurposed imperial scout trooper helms.

[eMeM]

They can run around naked if one push of a button wipes out the entire enemy force.

And if they make the whole empire completely replace every single set of personal armour... that's just insane from logistical and economical standpoint. It'd be much more difficult for the Empire to change their gear than for Mandos.

[bilateralrope]

I can understand the whole 'this isn't our way' bit but that weapon is beyond useful. Imagine having one of them in a city occupied by Imperial forces? It could be hidden anywhere and cripple or kill every stormtrooper in the place. Perhaps it's not Mandalorian to use, but I suspect the Rebellion as a whole would fucking love the ability to incapacitate every Imperial in the area with a device the size of a large droid.

notice how that thing effects fighters and AT-STs in addition to stormtroopers, now imagine the number of devices in your typical imperial city, not that different from the hardware the empire uses, the collateral damage would be massive and I'm not just talking about bodycounts and broken hardware here either. The popular suppose for the "alliance to restore the republic" would take the nosedive.

Just imagine what would happen if the Empire changes stormtrooper armor so that targeting it means that the device also causes nearby reactors to explode.

Come to think of it, what caused the star destroyer to explode in that episode ?

[Zixinus]

The fact it doesn't need LoS and seems to have no trouble passing through walls/hulls makes it the perfect weapon to deploy to liberate a city- an attack the Imperials can't hide from that will seek them out in they're in the AoE.

Remember that we have seen it used only in military spaces: in a civilian infrastructure, with tremendous civil infrastructure and who-knows-what kind of tech around, we have no idea what effect the arcing will have. For all we know, it might turn on the civilian population or destroy said infrastructure by overloads.

If the Emprire doesn't know about it, it's even more valuable.

The Empire knows ABOUT it, just lacks all the information to make it. Currently. It might show up again later.

And if they make the whole empire completely replace every single set of personal armour... that's just insane from logistical and economical standpoint.

The Empire doesn't have to. It would only need to replace armor where the weapon is located. Or just get into the habit of carrying small number of countermeasure units.

[Kojiro]

You do realize that pretty much 100% of the rebel ground assets are repurposed imperial gear?

So far as I can tell, it only affects armour- as it was intended. Unless they're wearing Imperial armour, it should leave their ground assets alone. There's also the advantage of knowing when they're gonna turn it on, should there be any elements they need to remove.

If the weapon targets just personal armor then it's even more of liability to the rebels as they don't have the logistical capability to make their own gear.

Being about to wipe out a garrison at the flick of a switch will greatly diminish the need for gear.

Also, what assets are you claiming will be affected?

bare in mind that during the episode there wasn't even who wasn't a mando or imperial who did wear body armor and was uneffected by the weapon.

You're gonna have to restate this. I'm unsure what you're saying.

Also as it's stated several times before that weapon is far less useful against imperials due to the simple matter that they're capable and willing of changing the the composition of their armor if that's needed.

It can't possibly be easier for them to change their armour than it is for Sabine or some tech to push a few buttons. I mean she literally altered it in seconds.

It's a terror weapon made to target specifically mandalorians and is near useless elsewhere, since the it's highly unlikely that "stormtrooper armor" is that different from "local police force armor"

You're confusing what it was made to do with what it can, clearly and demonstrably, actually do. Which is target and neutralize anyone wearing Imperial armour in a massive area. It doesn't have to be lethal even if you that worried about 'local police', if indeed they do actually wear Imperial grade armour.

or things avaible for private citizens to buy on planets like Tattooine, hell we've seen in canon rebel (well technically members of Saw Guerra's band but still) using repurposed imperial scout trooper helms.

Sure, and we saw Ezra wearing one too. But like I said, if you are the one using the device, you'll remove any such gear from the area (or at least take it off) before activating. After all, you don't need a helmet nearly so badly when you're not getting shot at. Imagine that ambush in Rogue One, but instead of the massive firefight in the populated area, it was just a low power crippling. The insurgents could have mopped up the stormtroopers in seconds. With zero collateral damage or casualties. Such a device would make storming a Rebel base insanely hard and the mobility of it would make it a nightmare. Imagine if they were strapped to fighters? You'd only have to fly by an ISD to cause mass confusion, and good luck trying to dogfight in your TIE when you're getting zapped.

[Lord Revan]

You do realize that pretty much 100% of the rebel ground assets are repurposed imperial gear?

So far as I can tell, it only affects armour- as it was intended. Unless they're wearing Imperial armour, it should leave their ground assets alone. There's also the advantage of knowing when they're gonna turn it on, should there be any elements they need to remove.

using the weapon would mean rebels couldn't wear any body armor what so or would have to craft their own that doesn't use any common materials on logistical network that's already stretched to the breaking point as it is

If the weapon targets just personal armor then it's even more of liability to the rebels as they don't have the logistical capability to make their own gear.

Being about to wipe out a garrison at the flick of a switch will greatly diminish the need for gear.

Also, what assets are you claiming will be affected?

Any sort of body armor "standard" rebel troops carry would be imperial gear or is implied to use the same materials

bare in mind that during the episode there wasn't even who wasn't a mando or imperial who did wear body armor and was uneffected by the weapon.

You're gonna have to restate this. I'm unsure what you're saying.

There's no indication of special "rebel" armor that uses different materials the stormtrooper gear stop assuming such a thing exists

Also as it's stated several times before that weapon is far less useful against imperials due to the simple matter that they're capable and willing of changing the the composition of their armor if that's needed.

It can't possibly be easier for them to change their armour than it is for Sabine or some tech to push a few buttons. I mean she literally altered it in seconds.

altered into a configuration based on composition she already knew Sabine is an former imperial cadet after all and stormtrooper armor isn't that rare or are you really that dumb that you think when imperials change their body armor, first thing they'll do is send a message to the rebels that said "oh here's the composition of our new body armor".

It's a terror weapon made to target specifically mandalorians and is near useless elsewhere, since the it's highly unlikely that "stormtrooper armor" is that different from "local police force armor"

You're confusing what it was made to do with what it can, clearly and demonstrably, actually do. Which is target and neutralize anyone wearing Imperial armour in a massive area. It doesn't have to be lethal even if you that worried about 'local police', if indeed they do actually wear Imperial grade armour.

materials, it targets materials, the fact it stuck a person wearing only a scout trooper helmet shows clearly that weapon is not smart enough to see if the armor is "proper grade" or not and as far as I know Stormtrooper armor uses no exotic materials

or things avaible for private citizens to buy on planets like Tattooine, hell we've seen in canon rebel (well technically members of Saw Guerra's band but still) using repurposed imperial scout trooper helms.

Sure, and we saw Ezra wearing one too. But like I said, if you are the one using the device, you'll remove any such gear from the area (or at least take it off) before activating. After all, you don't need a helmet nearly so badly when you're not getting shot at. Imagine that ambush in Rogue One, but instead of the massive firefight in the populated area, it was just a low power crippling. The insurgents could have mopped up the stormtroopers in seconds. With zero collateral damage or casualties. Such a device would make storming a Rebel base insanely hard and the mobility of it would make it a nightmare. Imagine if they were strapped to fighters? You'd only have to fly by an ISD to cause mass confusion, and good luck trying to dogfight in your TIE when you're getting zapped.
[/quote]unti imperials either develop counters, simply switch materials for their body armor or use battledroids or half billion other ways they can neuter the weapon, remember they might not know how to exactly make one but the imperial know what weapon does and how and for the second time Sabine was able to switch the weapon to target imperial armor because she knew what she was suppose to target, something the imperials wouldn't provide for free for the rebels should they feel the need to switch materials.

Then there's the matter of escalation to consider the rebels can ill afford to have the full might of the imperial navy be brought against them at this point.

[RogueIce]

Wow, I've never seen so much missing the point when it comes to this device. Jesus.

It's a goddamn terror weapon and you're saying the Rebel Alliance should use it! What in the actual fuck?

FUCK the technical argument. It's a weapon that tortures the enemy at "lower settings" and still tortures them at the higher settings before frying them, or did you not pay attention to what happened to those Mandos when they saw it in action? And you're seriously trying to argue whether the forces trying to restore peace and justice to the galaxy should use it?

The fuck is wrong with you?

=================

When it comes to "the Mandos should just change their armor" then that means the Empire still wins. Did not Sabine and Bo Katan explain the cultural significance and importance that the armor has to the Mandalorian people? Even if they went with the "pragmatic" choice and ditched the beskar, that's still a major psychological victory for the Empire: forcing them to abandon an important element of their cultural identity to continue their uprising, or keep it but live under the Empire's boot heel under threat of torture/annihilation at the whim of Imperial forces flipping a fucking switch.

Again, this is a terror weapon we're talking about here. Whether the Mandalorians give up the fight or give up who they are[/I], either way the Empire wins.

[Lord Revan]

Wow, I've never seen so much missing the point when it comes to this device. Jesus.

It's a goddamn terror weapon and you're saying the Rebel Alliance should use it! What in the actual fuck?

FUCK the technical argument. It's a weapon that tortures the enemy at "lower settings" and still tortures them at the higher settings before frying them, or did you not pay attention to what happened to those Mandos when they saw it in action? And you're seriously trying to argue whether the forces trying to restore peace and justice to the galaxy should use it?

in my defense what I've tried to point out with the technical arguments is that this weapon is a terror weapon with no real practical battlefield use, in fact what I tried to point out is that it's terror weapon tailored to be used specifically against mandalorians due to the cultural signifigance of the armor and special materials used to craft it and it's in no way a viable general purpose battlefield weapon.

The fuck is wrong with you?

many things actually but not seeing a terror weapon for what it is, not among my problems.

When it comes to "the Mandos should just change their armor" then that means the Empire still wins. Did not Sabine and Bo Katan explain the cultural significance and importance that the armor has to the Mandalorian people? Even if they went with the "pragmatic" choice and ditched the beskar, that's still a major psychological victory for the Empire: forcing them to abandon an important element of their cultural identity to continue their uprising, or keep it but live under the Empire's boot heel under threat of torture/annihilation at the whim of Imperial forces flipping a fucking switch.

Again, this is a terror weapon we're talking about here. Whether the Mandalorians give up the fight or give up who they are, either way the Empire wins.

another point (related to the first one) that I've been trying to make, but some people seem to see this weapon as anti-imperial silver bullet, so I have to use technical arguments so show that weapon only worked due to cultural signifigance of the beskar armor as it gave the mandos a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" choice.

PS. I fixed your tags to what I assume you meant to do RogueIce.

[RogueIce]

The fuck is wrong with you?

many things actually but not seeing a terror weapon for what it is, not among my problems.

That wasn't directed in any way at you, sorry if you thought it was.

another point (related to the first one) that I've been trying to make, but some people seem to see this weapon as anti-imperial silver bullet, so I have to use technical arguments so show that weapon only worked due to cultural signifigance of the beskar armor as it gave the mandos a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" choice.

Yeah, it's a little sad, TBH. I guess next people will try to argue that if the Rebels somehow got their hands on the Death Star, they totally should of used it.

Or maybe they should watch "In the Name of the Rebellion" and see why using an Imperial terror weapon isn't the right call to make. Unless you're Saw Gerrera, of course.

Don't be Saw Gerrera.

[Zixinus]

The last episode was all about that.

[The Romulan Republic]

Every fandom, I've found, has its faction that worships at the (un)holy alter of Pragmatism, which they generally seem to mis-define as "The ends justify the means, and the more brutal and ruthless the means, the better." A festering combination of cynics, sociopaths, and internet tough guys trying to prove what HARD MEN they are.

So yeah, RogueIce, I am absolutely positive that a significant number of Star Wars fans would say that the Rebels should have used the Death Star if they acquired it, and not just on ships or military instillations, but on fucking Coruscant. And would look down on the Rebels as naïve goody-goodies for not doing so.

I imagine that there is significant overlap between these "fans" and the folks who vote in strong men in real life, because "We need a STRONG LEADER who will DO WHAT IS NECESSARY."

Now, certainly, there are times when it is justified to do horrible things to prevent even more horrible things. But the people who think this way don't seem, to me, to spend much time thinking about the "necessary" part of "necessary evil." They just use "necessity" as an excuse for doing the evil they want to do/see others do.

[Lord Revan]

The fuck is wrong with you?

many things actually but not seeing a terror weapon for what it is, not among my problems.

That wasn't directed in any way at you, sorry if you thought it was.

you are forgiven but seeing as you posted under my post why no indication as who it directed to you can see how I could mistake it as being directed at me.

another point (related to the first one) that I've been trying to make, but some people seem to see this weapon as anti-imperial silver bullet, so I have to use technical arguments so show that weapon only worked due to cultural signifigance of the beskar armor as it gave the mandos a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" choice.

Yeah, it's a little sad, TBH. I guess next people will try to argue that if the Rebels somehow got their hands on the Death Star, they totally should of used it.

Or maybe they should watch "In the Name of the Rebellion" and see why using an Imperial terror weapon isn't the right call to make. Unless you're Saw Gerrera, of course.

Don't be Saw Gerrera.

What's truly sad is that it utterly ignores the story arc of Saw, the fact that his "kill imperials regardless of the cost" left Saw a broken and Paranoid man who thought that Jyn Erso whom Saw had raised after her parents were killed had come to kill him. Because Saw is no longer able to trust anyone but his own men and his band is barely holding together because of it as they got practically no allies left and thus practically no supplies. Saw's men might be fanatically loyal but they're short on everything but enemies.

Though I suspect it's less of wish to see the rebels as bloodthirsty mass murderers and more seeking any excuse to mock the new EU no matter how far fetched it might be.

[RogueIce]

That wasn't directed in any way at you, sorry if you thought it was.

you are forgiven but seeing as you posted under my post why no indication as who it directed to you can see how I could mistake it as being directed at me.[/quote]
You just happened to be the last one who had posted when I made the message. Could have been anyone, really. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Generally if I'm referring to a specific person I'd quote them or at least type out their name.

[Lord Revan]

Every fandom, I've found, has its faction that worships at the (un)holy alter of Pragmatism, which they generally seem to mis-define as "The ends justify the means, and the more brutal and ruthless the means, the better." A festering combination of cynics, sociopaths, and internet tough guys trying to prove what HARD MEN they are.

So yeah, RogueIce, I am absolutely positive that a significant number of Star Wars fans would say that the Rebels should have used the Death Star if they acquired it, and not just on ships or military instillations, but on fucking Coruscant. And would look down on the Rebels as naïve goody-goodies for not doing so.

I imagine that there is significant overlap between these "fans" and the folks who vote in strong men in real life, because "We need a STRONG LEADER who will DO WHAT IS NECESSARY."

Now, certainly, there are times when it is justified to do horrible things to prevent even more horrible things. But the people who think this way don't seem, to me, to spend much time thinking about the "necessary" part of "necessary evil." They just use "necessity" as an excuse for doing the evil they want to do/see others do.

True that there's people who don't seem to get that a necessary evil is still evil just the lesser of 2 evils, the option you take when no other options are left, the option you take with gritted teeth and when all is said and done, you should lower head in shame that it came to this.

After all he who fights monster should take care to not become what he fights.

[The Romulan Republic]

I'm going to quote another of the posters here, who in another thread put it, I thought, exceptionally well:

It is always worth remembering that the means are part of the ends in any 'ends justify the means' calculation.

[Lord Revan]

I'm going to quote another of the posters here, who in another thread put it, I thought, exceptionally well:

It is always worth remembering that the means are part of the ends in any 'ends justify the means' calculation.

another way to put would imho that one must remember that at some point the cure will become worse then the disease.

In fact the whole "In name of the rebellion" 2-parter was about discussing the point where your means become so bad that no ends can justify them. About the fact that one shouldn't confuse pragamatism with brutality, that choosing the prudent choice over the gun-ho one isn't cowardice.

[Zixinus]

The be fair, the main point is fair: the weapon is VERY practical due to its selective nature. If used with surprise, it would be very effective and can potentially turn a battle or outright win one. It's not like rebels don't shoot storm-troopers and the rebellion needs whatever advantage it can lay its hands own. Unique weapon designs are unlikely to be common.

The main problem is strategically it would benefit the Empire more than the rebellion. It would present more problems for the Rebellion than it does for the Empire. The Empire does not care if there is a friendly fire incident. The Empire does not care if civilians and civilian infrastructure is damaged.

What's more, the Empire can dedicated manufacturing and units for this. Remember that this thing's actual battle-use required its own specialized walker? Something like that will require more walkers to shield it until it can get into effective range, otherwise it will be the first thing shot. Rebels don't have surplus walkers like that, if they have any at all.

Then again, there is a problem: the rebels don't have standardized armor, they have random assortment of armor salvaged/stolen/smuggled/inherited from whatever (Clone Wars era armor?) or just stolen Imperial armor. So aside Mandalore, where there is a mostly-standardized armor, it has limited uses. Which would actually give a big political reason for the Rebellion to keep it hidden, because the Rebellion will likely require Mandalorian support in the future (we can bet that they'll show up later in Rebels).

As for motivations:

Part of the spirit of the Rebellion isn't just beating the Empire, but also by fighting for something better than the Empire. If you become as ruthless and bloodthirsty as the Empire, then what's the point? Why fight to replace one tyrant with another?

The other thing is that the Rebellion seems to rely on good faith. A lot of rebel support comes from people that put aside or slip stuff through in good faith. This scales upwards, too, with the Rebellion being a force that can be relied upon, a network worth becoming part of. The Rebellion wants popular uprisings, military deserters, funding from the rich, political supporters.