I wanted to comment on why I find commandos sub par.

I believe that the main problem is the "negative speed/easier to hit feedback-loop" that is caused by high rate of fire weapons slow down effect and commandos big hitbox. Let me illustrate:

You get hit -> Move slower -> Easier to hit (big hitbox)/apply damage to/slow down even more-> Repeat geting hit.

I actually die quicker on my untanked gallente commando than on my tanked gallente scout (not fully brick tanked, 1 complex plate usually). Dont know if this is intentional or not.

Heavy/sentinels offset this issue with higher shield/armor, resistances and naturally slower movement speed (Im guessing slow down effect is a scale factor rather than a subtracted value).

The solution to this problem is to either remove the slow down effect or tone it down on heavier frames with the motivation that heavy objects moving in a certain direction with a velocity is not affected as much as light objects by small arms gunfire.

I would not be surprised if this was not considered when designing the commando role/introducing the on hit slow down effect since it seems like an impact that is very hard to predict.

Nor would I be surprised if removing the slow down effect would actually solve many other issues and improve QoL for those who play.

Well currently only got Lvl 5 in Gallente and Minmatar Commando's as well as lvl 3 in Caldari. Never felt like the suit wasn't viable since the racials was all added in, but with the recent assault HP buff, perhaps a similar buff for Commando's may bring them upto speed, or perhaps just a cpu/pgu increase as well as the extra mod slot to bring the Commando's fittings to their Sentinel Counter parts.