Quite consciously.

The wookipedia article described it as an imperial grey blocky wingless MAAT/LAAT. With less armor and weapons.

Throwing in the sharp 'Transport' edges helps destroy most of the beauty of the LAAT while looking formidable.

Not at all. This is designed to be an Imperial light transport tho- I would do something different for the rebs.
The article specifies a pilot, gunner and 6 passengers.
Thats why I gave a similar layout to the 2142 gunship for weapons- the number 2 slot gets anti infantry blasters.

If it was going to be put into the mod and we wanted more for the passengers to do, yeah we could put a blaster each side of the chin (where the balls are on the LAAT)

For the rebs- I'd design something that looked non military and with a cockpit displaced to the side (like the falcon) to break up symmetry.

There are enough airspeeders/airtrucks/airwinnebegos in the galaxy to simply put armour on one and strap on some MK1's.
Talon's right, we dont have to resort to 'one day, Princess Leia chanced across a big parking lot full of ex military LAATs lying idle and said yoink'

check out this cargo/personell shuttle from 40k:

''Its over. Angel won.''   RSF Gurd