I personally think of the Rebels as a rag-tag do what you can with what you find lying around type of group.
Kind of like rebels in the real world.
Rebels have guns from WW1 (Mauser C96 have been found on them recently), WW2 (enfield bolt action rifles currently in use), modern guns etc in real life.
I think it was Lucas' intention that the rebels be this way in SW too in my opinion.
So I think it would be fitting to have some different weapon types for the rebels only on almost every map (not the Imperials ofc).
Not as the standard kit necessarily, but could be one pick-up kit lying around a base or half buried in the snow, etc.
Say in the center of the action and one time per round spawn though so no camping. Even better would be to have it in the direct line of fire of the enemy.
I personally think this would add to realism in that it adds variety to the rebel weapons.
Could be the bounty hunter pistol at the rebel spawn in the Hoth base, the EE3 half buried in the snow by the trench out in the open in the Imperial approach lane, maybe something like that.
Might have that large blade that replaces the knife somewhere too etc.