This thing seems really good. I don't get how something like this got printed.

So a Researcher can pilot this for total bargain price of 154 points and have it be almost fully powered? What am I missing here? How is this balanced in any sort of way for the game? 12 clix of life and a ton of cool abilities for what seems to be less than half the cost of pretty much anything else equivalent. Seriously, what am I missing here that makes this balanced and good for the game?

don't read BB, but would love to have this on my shelf.

Or a 6 point thug.

Which activates neither Piloted ability, as the previous poster was referring to. A case where there is certainly no better way to spend 9 points, to activate at least one dial.

What do you guys think is the best modern age beetle to play with this monster?

You only have two options in modern age, currently. Since neither of them give any particular benefit over the other, I'd go with the cheaper one, DC10th 016 Blue Beetle.

When Streets of Gotham comes out, the Blue Beetle in that set will give The Bug +1 to speed and attack, for only 6 points more.