I've sunk a couple of hours or three into the game, and amassed a large collection of lasers, so I would like this question cleared up; what advantages do Institute lasers possess over Pre-War lasers?

I have observed that they have somewhat inferior damage (and are thus shunned by most players) but I am curious to see whether or not they possess redeeming qualities before/after modding that allow them to become a mainstay in one's arsenal. Can I have a laser connoisseur's views on the subject?

EDIT 1: Shortly after posting this (and I mean VERY shortly), I stumbled on a Legendary Institute pistol that does burning damage, adding another facet to my question; how well do Legendary Institute weapons hold up against their Pre-War counterparts, and how does the comparison change after modifications?

If i recall correctly, institute weapons have a higher fire rate with a lower damage rating per shot.

I prefer the pre-war lasers because high-fire rate low damage weapons take more shots to kill, and therefore more ammo.

The differences aren't gigantic though. Legendary weapons that apply DoT stack (at least, bleed does), and usually do flat damage, so those are better on an institute weapon with their better fire rate.

If that's the case, shouldn't it be easier to proc crits and get more attacks in VATS with these weapons, especially with good Agility and Perception?

Furthermore, now that I think of it, Crippling or Kneecapping qualities would be excellent on these weapons. Since both Legendary status effects have a chance to activate with every shot, higher fire rate would naturally boost the probability of incapacitation, which is a significant advantage considering how effective they are against Legendary enemies!