I notice a lot of older threads discussing the issues with carriers in SGW, are they at least on par with the good Dreads now if not above to justify their pricetags?
If so what are your favourites and why?

Do I get to know your favourite out of DN/CV weight then? ;)
Also, what changes were made to player carriers roughly? :)

I'm really not sure, it depends on the ship. ANd our scripters were implementing balancing changes, really don't know specifics. On some, probably shield regen rate, on some HP, on some weapons recharge rate, mostly directly related to player feedback.

My favorite ship is Deadly Premonition and when I don't fly my Titan, I'm in it.

I think the re balance to fighters may have gone too far in the other direction as of 1.6. I can have 60,000 in shields, plus the Halo enhancement (+140% I believe), and the fighters from a single warmaster carrier are able to take my shields down in seconds.

Is it even possible to shoot down fighters? Mine get shot down all the time, but I am unable to shake them when they are chewing through my hull.

Interceptors are good against enemy craft. Bombers against capitals and Fighters a golden middle for both enemy craft and capital ships.

Try Interceptors, perhaps? Maybe it will make a difference, but enhancements are important too. FInd something that suits your playstyle.

Great information. Thanks!

Carriers are still a let down, they are expensive (which is not a problem) and don't do much damage during combat, as a consequence combats become quite long.
Fighters have suddenly become a death threat though, they chew through your shields in mere seconds, no other battleship or dreadnought can do the same amount of damage. During a playthrough you'll go through any battle without taking much damage, until you meet your first enemy carrier, then you are suddenly dead because of fighters.
You may say an element of surprise has been added.

I always thought fighters and interceptors were the other way round, with fighters being designed to well, fight enemy strike craft.