Isn’t the Praxis kind of … OP?

(Obligatory High Sec PvE'ler disclaimer)

tl;dr: The praxis is a shield-tanked droneboat with weapons and 7 low slots to put ganky stuff in, offering too much power at too little a cost and skill investment.

Compare the following two fittings:

Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Imperial Navy Drone Damage Amplifier
Imperial Navy Drone Damage Amplifier
Drone Damage Amplifier II
Caldari Navy Co-Processor

Caldari Navy X-Large Shield Booster
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Multispectrum Shield Hardener II
Domination Shield Boost Amplifier
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Precision Script
Target Painter II

Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile
Cruise Missile Launcher II, Inferno Fury Cruise Missile

Large Core Defense Capacitor Safeguard II
Large Core Defense Operational Solidifier II
Large Warhead Flare Catalyst II

Curator II x4
Gecko x2
Hobgoblin II x5

Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System
Caldari Navy Ballistic Control System

Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Missile Guidance Computer II, Missile Range Script
Target Painter II
Target Painter II
X-Large Shield Booster II
Shield Boost Amplifier II
Heavy Capacitor Booster II, Cap Booster 800

Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Torpedo
Torpedo Launcher II, Caldari Navy Mjolnir Torpedo
Bastion Module I

Large Hydraulic Bay Thrusters II
Large Rocket Fuel Cache Partition II

Hobgoblin II x5

With either the Geckos or Wardens out, the Praxis outdamages the Golem. Or, to be more precise, all Marauders if the right drones are brought and target resists considered. Yes, even a Paladin against Blood Raiders. And while the Praxis fit is rather shiny, it is about equal to the hull cost of a Marauder.

Now of course the Praxis also has some issues. Missiles + Drones is a somewhat awkward combo as one is prone to losing salvos (or be overcautious and thus lose DPS), and it's effective weapons range is limited by its 87.5km lock range and 60km drone control range. Refitting drones specific to the mission can also be a bit of a hassle if one works multiple agents concurrently. And finally, Marauders also have 3 utility slots, whereas the Praxis ist extremely tight on CPU and thus has to leave the slot empty. So overall, Marauders are probably still more effective compared to the Praxis.

But there's the problem, isn't it? We are comparing a relatively cheap-as-dirt and skill-light T1 BS against the most expensive and skill-heavy subcapitals in the game. Why get a Dominix when the Praxis is a better drone boat? Why get a Megathron/Hyperion/Abaddon/Maelstrom when the Praxis is a better gun boat? Why get a Raven when the Praxis is a better missile boat? In fact, it's somewhat hard to justify a Rattlesnake against a Praxis, what with it being locked into Kin/Therm damage for its launchers.

So, what to do? Well, aside from problems specific to the Praxis, the big problem is that it is a droneboat and that droneboats are OP. Especially droneboats that can also still bring a respectable rack of weapons to bear. Gurista boats are the best designed droneboats in my opinion, and considering the prevalence of the Gila in 0.0 and the popularity of the Rattlesnake in highsec even they might need to be looked at. For the Praxis in particular though, I'd reduce it to a 6/6/6 slot layout to bring it more in line with the amout of slots one would expect for a ship of that price. I'd maintain the 6 weapons though, to force people to chose between a max gank fit or a probe scanner.