the original intent was to add more RP to capships. in reality they would fly the same, shoot the same, act the same.
the only thing it would change would be that a battleship wouldn't be able to say "time to buy more b/b's, i'll just dock with this station that could feasibly fit in my hanger bay"....sure they wouldn't ACTUALLY say that....it's the action that counts :D
this is not as much a balance change as it's an attempt at a potential RP increase