yeah, the dome ships seemed a little impractical to me as well. like they were more pleasure craft like cruise liners before they were pressed into service for military work.

That's one theory I've seen a lot! The other, which is my personal theory, is they were originally designed to engage ships which were very strong at long range but vulnerable at close range. Specifically, I imagine the Dome Ships charge dome-first into battle, using the dome as an enormous physical shield, and then as soon as they breach the enemy formation, the side-mounted weapons open up and tear into the enemy.

It's a rather primitive style of fighting, similar to sword-and-shield infantry combat, but it's the only way I can justify this shape. xD

Ehhh, i don't see that personally. Because the dome part represents your food, water, and physical recreation area all in one. But to each their own.

That's true, the Dome does hold all those things, but I still think it's gotta have some extra purpose. Otherwise, it's a huge blind spot in the ship's fields of fire for no good military reason.