Here is some more data to consider, when looking at the listed stats for the standard cannons and ion cannons across the X-wing, A-wing, TIE Fighter, and TIE Interceptor.
By the listed stats, the Xwing and TIE Fighter both have the same ammo capacity for standard lasers (182). But the Xwing rate of fire is 7.5 shots/second while the TIE Fighter rate of fire is 6.7 shots/second (by the listed stats, the TIE Fighter regens standards slower than Xwing -- but I don't think that is relevant to this for other reasons, since TIE Interceptor regen is listed as quite slow, but it can fire for much longer than TIE Fighter).
That means the TIE Fighter should be shooting for 27.2 seconds while the Xwing is shooting for 24.3 seconds. In reality, the TIE Fighter can shoot standards for only about half as long as the Xwing can, all things being equal. Meanwhile, the TIE Interceptor (which in my view should be the real hit-and-fade fighter) can shoot for standards for almost as long as the Xwing (and exactly as long as the Awing), despite having a rate of fire of 9.1 shots/second and the same ammo capacity (182).
It makes even less sense with Ion Cannons. All four ships have the same Ion DPS (1680). All four ships have the same ammo capacity (140). Of the four ships, the TIE Fighter has the slowest rate of fire (6.7) and the fastest regen (11.0). It should be able to fire for the longest time; yet it reality it can only sustain fire for much shorter time than an Xwing, Awing, or Interceptor.
Either the TIE Fighter is bugged or the stat pages are utterly detached from reality (though I think perhaps both).
