It was easy to maintain and pilot. While not very durable and lacking hyperdrive and shields, its laser cannons were above standard power ratings. It was often specialized and modified by their owners for a variety of different uses.
Many such fighters were deployed by the Rebel Alliance, but were a short-lived venture as the fighter's maneuverability and speed were sub-par, even for such an inexpensive craft. They were, however, very effective against ground targets and saw much use in such action until the Rebel Alliance moved on to more effective combat means.