KenV wrote:

Yowsa!!!  That makes for a lousy "strike" fighter in my opinion.

That wasn't the initial intend with the Viper either, but to say it is a "lousy" strike fighter because of this one thing is a little unfair. The limitations, which is on the hardpoints, does not make it much worse in a BVR engagement. The hardpoints of later block versions most likely can take higher loads.