You can't really have diverse fittings with only 2-3 main rack slots. Dropships are passable, but HAVs and LAVs have extremely limited number of fits and it has little to do with PG/CPU. I mean sure, I can probably fit better modules with PG/CPU, but the types of modules will remain unchanged.

YOU CAN THOUGH any shield HAV can run full proto modules, turret, and small turrets RIGHT NOW!

Armour tanks cannot! And should shield tank forgo small turrets they can also Armour tank with is unacceptable.

Pretty much this, I would be all for giving vehicles some more fitting power, but we all know it won't result in more diverse fits, neither will adding more module slots.

If I give you more fitting power, you won't use it to fit a PRO MCRU or Scanner, you'll use it to slap on a better armour plate or hardener.

If I give you 2 extra slots (1H 1L) You won't use it to put a team support module, you'll put more eHP in it.
Because much like suits, very few people give a **** about anything but eHP. Instead consider more elegant solution, such as fitting bonus to your turrets for each additional one you equip.

1 turret - 0%
2 turret - 20% across all turrets
3 turret - 40% across all turrets

well you have to remember these are basic vehicles.. in the standard tier.. wait till they bring back advanced and proto vehicles.. and the logi LAV.. and logi DS... and enforcer/maurauder tanks

In my mind under the current model, and I'm more than willing to be proven wrong, the only way to rectify this issue is through a couple of steps (assuming the Gunnlogi is left as is).

(Model assumed at proto level)

1.) Armour HAV fitting Capacity increased to allow for all proto module selection
2.) Reintroduction of 180mm plating (offers 2750 armour at PRO level)
3.) Active Repair Modules brought back and Hardeners to 30%
4.) Shield HAV tanking stats altered to 3000 Shield, 1250 Armour

Example

A Standard Gunnlogi might look like

1x Ion Cannon
2x Particle Cannon
1x Complex Shield Hardener
2x Complex Heavy Shield Extenders

1x Complex PG Module
1x Complex CPU Module

5650 Shield (*1.4 = 7910) 1250 Armour = total 9160

A Standard Madrugar might look like

1x Ion Cannon
2x 20GJ Scattered Blasters
1x Complex 180mm Polycrystalline Armour Plating
1x Complex Type N Carapace Hardener
1x Heavy Efficient Armour Repairer
1x Damage Control
1x Heat Sink II

1200 Shield, 6750 Armour (*1.3 = 8775 ) = total 9975 (9637.5 EHP if assuming 1.25 modifier on hardener and only 477.5 EHP difference.)

Now bear in mind the Armour HAV is supposed to be the brawler tank, and is still subject to enhanced AV damage, and has no passive reps for only 815 extra armour (less than 1 seconds worth of DPS on any vehicle large turret).

Eh not that biased. Armor HAVs are VERY hard to fit compared to shield tanks. You can easily fit full proto on a shield HAV, but cannot do the same for armor. I'm usually putting extra random **** on my Gunnlogis because I can, and I'm usually leaving a high slot empty on my madrugar because Im out of resources.

Yes and no.
I have two versions of Gunnis for each type of turret: 1 proto large turret that is meant to be driven solo and the other version has a basic turret + 2 small turrets for the rare occasion I can actually get someone to hop in.

Solo versions generally have about 3,800 shield and 2,500 armor + 2 shield hardeners for tank v tank battles. I sacrifice one hardener in favor of an extender for the small turret builds.

Compare that to my poor Maddys; I have one equipped with an Ion Cannon, injector, scanner, and three repairers (one is advanced, all other modules are basic.) The other Maddy has the basic large and small blaster turrets (only one small, however) along with two scanners, two repairers and one hardener (all basic.) Again, CPU is almost maxed out but I have something like 400 PG sitting there, unused.

The Gunni is great for its versatility and I don't have a major problem with the fitting capacity. Sicas may need to be reduced. But Somas/Maddys...they need at least 100 more CPU to allow for better armor modules along with a small HP boost of about 500 or so.

You can though.

The point I am trying to make is that Shield HAV can have respectable and significantly higher EHP through a straight racial shield tank against most AV options than an Armour Tanks can, AND if you so choose to fit Small Turrets as not everyone does, have free access to fitting modules to allow for a 8620 EHP platform with well around 2000 DPS if fully manned.

However an Armour tank cannot hope to match that in any form.

I can match your DPS but I'll have less regenerative capacity and almost 2000 less EHP. I can attempt to match that EHP but have less DPS and regenerative capacity.

If I chose on a Shield tank to forgo the Small Turrets I can even Armour Tank my Shield HAV.......... I cannot Hybrid tank my Armour HAV under any circumstances.

Hell even Shield HAV that forgo that 2nd Complex Shield Extender will likely have more EHP than me, more regenerative Capacity, AND more DPS due to that Damage module you often see in their high slots.

Direct EHP buffs are pointless because they do not address the fundamental issue with tanks. Where once the Armour HAV was the brick with high EHP and the stand and deliver capacity it's now the hit and run HAV, while the shield has taken its original role.

Pre 1.7 Armour tanking was enjoyable. Now it is no longer viable or enjoyable.

I mean most Standard Maddy are instantly destroyed by a missile launcher turret without exception..... yet shield HAV are resistant to and can react to any other kind of turret. There is no reason the Armour HAV should not have comparable capacity.

Two modules that were removed with 1.7 that benefited Armour HAV significantly were the Heat Sink (decreased heat build up) and the Damage Control Unit (between 5-9 % resistances to shield and armour).

Also at one time shield reflected their EVE counter parts and passively regenerated constantly.

Hell think of what could happen if CCP introduced Shield Regulators on HAV as low slot modules.

A Shield HAV could produce a full passive tank without having to abuse its fitting capacity for Armour modules.