Phasers could be put on overload. There were a couple of episodes where they used the "phaser on overload" dramatic device to scare the wits out of us. I don't remember the specific episodes at this time, but please don't take away my "original Star Fleet Breast-symbol collection" over it.
When we were kids, some of us wanted a phaser (to disintegrate our enemies or schoolyard bullies no matter what they may claim today), or a tri-corder, or a transporter, or a communicator. It seems to me that the kids who wanted and dreamed of a communicator sold themselves short on future technology because now for all intents and purposes everybody has one. With more functions than Kirk's ever had, I might add.
Those who wanted a tri-corder would have to admit that the technology for one of those is looming on the horizon also. Again, they sold themselves short.
I suppose if I had a working phaser I might be tempted to use it on some of the local taxis but I could probably get over that. Besides, the machine that Kirk had in his quarters for making people just "disappear" in the episode "Mirror, Mirror" would work just as well without ever having to leave home.
Those who picked "transporter" as the Star Trek device to have did not sell themselves short. If I had one of those right now, I'd get my kicks transporting World Leaders (and some just-hopefuls) into Vladimir Putin's inner office without warning and without qualm just to hear about the outcomes on the Late Night News. Any reports from Starlets that they were transported into
my inner-office and then later being accused of "
stalking" me would of course be totally invented by the Starlets involved. I'm above that.
