I'm going to go out on a limb here and speculate, that many, maybe most, of the players stating that the cap 8 armor should be increased are bomber pilots, or just prefer to fly fighter-class ships.
The gunship balance issue aside (it will be balanced - or nerfed to the point of nonviability) the reason many folks have cap 8 armor is because of SNs (a weapon that is begging for an "adjustment"), plain and simple.
If a bomber (or bombers) is engaging a gunship, it is supposed to be a challenge, for both parties. Especially if the gunship is fitted for anti-fighter duty. If it's pain to take down a gunship, it means the pilot has reasonable flying skills and a good setup.
