Fighters aren't that expensive, just try it out. Or do it on Single Player and see if you like how it flies.
"To gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence;
to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence."
I have found that different ships fly better depending on your style of flight and combat. Maybe try several out, run a few missions and then decide which one you are more comfortable with. Effectivley flown, a lower armor ship can be just as dangerous as a VHF.
So far my favorite ship would have to be the Sabre. Small(ish), Fast, and sorta avaible to all factions. (Doesnt list any ownership, but you can only buy it on pirate bases. Kinda messes with your RP.)
While being quite funny, your sig was the biggest one i've ever seen so far. No more than 700x250 please. ~utrack http://pastebin.com/SYQXBufs
personally, i believe that extra armor is not worth agility. but it depends on your fighting style. some ppl charge, some ppl chase. if you are a charger, the extra armor does matter, especially cause it is multiplied by armor platings. if you are a chaser, you don t need the extra armor.
best is to test them, like it was said before.
my favourite VHF is the chimaera, but thats mostly cause i love the look of that ship. - a lot is about the look, too. if you like a ship, you ll more easily ignore certain disadvantages or advantages of others.
the ravens claw is a good VHF. it has 8 guns and so can dish out quite a punishing beating. but it looks ugly ( in my opinion ), so cause i wouldn t like its look, i would not like to fly it and so would prolly never like to "learn" how to use it most effectivly.