It may be because VSDs can be a little difficult to use sometimes, having the manouverability issues of an ISD, whilst needing to manouvre more than an ISD. Furthermore, Maldrood seems to have fewer bomber units than other factions. (Arc-170s/ Tie Avs seems to be more anti-fighter to me than tie-bombers. Possibly?)
That said, a strike-cruiser/ ISD taskforce is extremely powerful if you use it right. Add the strike-cruiser's interceptors to the ISD's fighters to keep strike craft occupied, use the strike-cruisers to knock down shields and expose capitals to ISD fire, whilst using ISDs as a shield between the S-Cs and the enemy's reduced firepower*, and you can beat even era 5 NR fleets of MC 90s and Nebulas. At least, I have anyway.
*Yes, this is possible, and it is deliciously ironic.
I was a big proponent of strike cruisers a while ago, I love them.
To the Op You can also build VSD I which have concussion torpedo, they are good at wrecking shields. Otherwise you can brute force them with strike cruiser spam (they have some ions and are cheap), or CC VSD's and allegiances.
You can also screw around with strike craft in various fleet configurations. Getting large piles of TIE Avengers can help and ARC 170's are decent vs capitals and other fighters. Quoted from another thread.
Carrier Fleets.
The carrier fleet is reasonably cheap to build as you star with a good chunk of the required ships. I would recommend this as a 1st fleet.
Early Carrier Fleet (cheap)
2 Secutors (Admirals Trier is in one) 16 Points
2 ISD II 12 Points
2 Providence 6 Points
3 Escort Carriers 10 points
6 Strike Cruisers 18 points
a variant is the TIE Avenger fleet. TIE Avengers carry missiles
3 Secutors
X12 Neutron Star Bulk Cruisers
Arc 170 fleet
4 ISD II
6 Providence Class Carriers
5 Escort Carriers
1 Admiral Lan/2 IPV's
This fleet is built around spitting out a large amount of ARC 170's. They seem a bit more durable than TIE Avengers and you get more punching power in this fleet from the Providences and ISDs over the TIE Avenger fleet.