Okay I had a moment of fridge logic. Hear me out I might be crazy.
So people rage over the idea that Goku got bested by a ray gun in Ressurection F, yet are totally okay with the cell saga where Dr. Gero built an android specifically to kill Goku. a fully mechanical one, android 16
Whats the difference between a robot and a space gun? Like…nothing. Just one of them can talk and is “alive”.
So gero is some bro from earth who could create miracle androids strong enough to kill saiyans but Freiza, emperor of everything, can’t have his top scientists make a super duper strong gun?
I think part of the reason is the under handed-ness of the gun. With 16, it follows in theme of the franchise. Losing to someone who can punch and kick is more honorable than to a sneaky bullet. But Freeza isn’t honorable at all.