The Hawk is a lategame god tier interceptor. The damage output of a Gat Lascannon is insane with the +20% accuracy boost. If you have some shadow orbs to put in your STC slots you will get shields. If you have spacial displacers it becomes invulnerable.
The Hawk is also a decent troop transport because it has doors. No problematic windows I think, but I haven't used it much lately.
The menace class ships have one main flaw: no doors. As such, they are not the best troop transports anyway. The Fuego is the best menace class interceptor because of the speed, so I would say it is the most useful of all the menace ships.
The thing with the layout is, you have to play some missions to really get the advantages and disadvantages. Also, know how to redecorate. When using the turtle, at the start of every mission I smash the pillows (high tu colored floor tiles) with a crowbar. In the shadowbat I demolish the beds to get more space close to the ladders.