Gunboats are deadly if used correctly. They can poke cruisers and bigger ships, so your caps have more breathing room. The skill ceiling is also not that high compared to snubs; basic turret steering gets most of the job done.
Also, a gunboat should not try to kite against a group of snubs; playing aggressive is the key here. You have higher chances of landing several FWG hits and possibly a Ravager fuse.
