While they continue to be cripplingly isk inefficient and SP intensive in comparison to both battlecruiser and pirate hulls they will not be used. They aren't just inferior to T3Cs, they're shit compared to pretty much everything. T2 battlecruisers are 100% better and can use fleet boosts while T1 battlecruisers are cheaper(T1 insurance is god tier) and easier to train to while still being relatively quick.

Here's a rundown of the state HACS are in: Ishtar -> Gilas better (turns out unkillable drones are cancer) and the VNI is cheaper. The only reason the Ishtar is used over the VNI is that it's slightly more versatile but it's an extra 120-140 mil more for 0 combat improvement (VNI's get the same DPS as Ishtar's).

Deimos -> not bad for solo but the brutix is similar enough that it doesn't matter. Kinetic/thermal locked and has limited fleet uses.

Onyx -> Feroxes aren't as fast, but they're much cheaper to field and do better DPS.

Cerb -> Uses the worst weapons system in the game. Christ I miss the old Cerb.

Zealot -> get an oracle or an ONI. It's not unusable but it's not great. Anything bigger than a destroyer with only 3 mid slots is a joke in most cases.

Sacrilege -> HAMs/HMLs suck.

Vagabond -> So retarded it's not even funny, the fact that this ship exists is a testament to just how unused and forgotten both HACs and the Minmatar faction is. Medium autos are trash and arty is hard to fit.

Muninn -> go buy a cane or a tornado. Nados have range and hit harder, canes are cheaper and just as tanky. Medium autos are trash and arty is hard to fit.

The only ship line in a worse state than HACs is assault frigates. HACs unlike assault frigates have a role, they just don't fill it.