@ Jinx: You are particulary right, but as we all know, Freelancer is action not science.
Despite the fact those side parts may work as small fuel tanks and may help to keep stability in atmospheric flights, not every part must have physical functionality. Psychological Warfare. A scary and aggressive design may let think an opponent, it would be better to run, even if he is stronger.
And for Bauhaus style. I think only a few people want to fly a Borg Cube.
I tryied to implement a bit of Bauhaus feeling with my Kusari Transport (functional modular construction).
In my design philosophy a good design polarizes people. Some will hate and some will love it.
Basic Bauhaus design does not polarize. It is just boring.