Why not magnetic weaponry? Wouldn't assault-rifle sized rail guns be far more devastating and effective in combat? The projectiles of magnetic weaponry are pretty close to being as fast as lasers, and are better at piercing armor; not to mention most magnetic rounds have a farther effective range than laser weaponry. Overall, magnetic weapons are better than laser weapons unless you have a highly advanced laser weapon that fires ridiculously powerful blasts; and without a compact power source capable of containing ludicrous amounts of energy, that ain't happening.
TL;DR: Magnetic weapons > Laser weapons
Thoughts? Opinions?
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Probably because magnetic weapons are more feasible. Sci-fi is that crazy imaginary world from the future with bad ass giant lasers that -blam!- shit up. Something that hurls a large peace of metal just doesn't stimulate the imagination as much you know? Don't get me wrong, the MAC's in the Halo universe are bad ass and all but lasers are just a staple of most sci-fi lore.