The Patriot is the most agile fighter in the game and since it is almost invulnerable it can go very far - farther than the Dagger even. But it doesn't have the firepower to deal with masses of heavy fighters (class 7 and higher) quickly enough to serve as a freelancer's workhorse. Perfect for outlandish stunts, though, and the best way to earn the money for the mid-level fighter that you want use as a money maker. It is also the easiest of the class 3/4 ships to beat the campaign with. I like the Patriot but it is not my favourite.
For me it is a tie between Dagger and Anubis. Both are the strongest in their class (armour/powerplant) with normal manoeuvrability for the ship type, both have loadout possibilities that give them more firepower than similar fighters, and both have comparatively large cargo holds (loot!). Also, both are very good money makers - about $1 million per hour with the Anubis, one third for the Dagger - and both are simply fun to fly.
I think the Cavalier is just a normal light fighter; the stats are more decent than the looks
but it has nothing that would make it stand out - quite unlike the extraordinary Drake that costs just a few credits more.
BTW, if you had posted this topic in the
Spoiler Forum then it would have been possible to discuss the merits of the ships in more detail ...