Auto-lock gimball is the only way to go... The current state is just ridiculous. They have auto-lock cannons in modern fighter planes today, why not in fictional 2900's?
Elite Dangerous made it right. Gimballs autolock, but the targetted vessel can break the lock going to silent running mode (thus shutting down shields in the progress, on the other hand even missiles can't lock then) or outmaneuvering the opponent. In ED gimballed weapons are also much weaker than fixed guns of the same type. They managed to balance it out pretty well. Can't see why CIG could not do it.