Cut-price County cruisers make sense only in a large series

Is there any scenario in which a cut-price County-class cruiser makes sense?

Yes, if a large program really delivers many more hulls, such as twelve reduced ships for the cost of eight full Counties.

A reduced County-class cruiser offers poor value if only two examples are built. The compromises then produce weaker ships without enough savings to alter fleet strength. A series of twelve could make sense if it genuinely cost about the same as eight full-price Counties. The navy would be accepting lower capability on each hull in exchange for four additional cruisers. The procurement case depends on realized fleet numbers rather than the advertised unit price.