For one, Code's are a bit more balanced with other guns now - before hand, Code's were the only real guns to have, other then the crappy civilian stuff, for a non-faction fighter - the alternative was to hope for a tech-grant.
Now, tech produces core nerf's, the civilian guns have gotten a significant boost, and Codes still remain an option, but one for more skilled pilots - with the low refires and low projectile speed.