The basic argument is that CERTAIN NEW PLAYERS put more stock in what EFT says is a bigger number than what actually flies, and are very very quick to dismiss the advice and experience of pilots who've been around long enough to know what's the better option. Reminding said people of this fact is the simplest thing to do. No need to be an ass, just gently remind them that, actually, you've been playing this game longer than they have, and you probably have a better idea of what's a good idea.

Specific counterpoints:

"I am gonna fly a Tengu"

Learn to actually PvP before you fly around a ship that costs a billion ISK to fiy properly. Alternatively, carebear.

"I would rather just fly frigates"

Admirable, actually. Train for battleships when you've maxed out frigate skills.

"I personally am just gonna do logistics"

Uh...wow? People actually want to fly logistics? Sounds like an ace pilot to me.

"I want a freighter"

Carebear.

"Have Nighthawk, don't need a battleship"

EFT more.

"Sleipnir does everything"

EFT more.

"I don't fly battleships"

Well what do you fly?

"I would train it but I need to get my elite certificates"

lol

"I would rather fly a Hulk"

Carebear.

"I am not in your corp"

I'm assuming this is an alliancemate? Talk to CEO?

"I think a Sac would be better than a battleship, no?"

EFT more.

"All I need is my Drake"

Is it a nanodrake? If it isn't, then EFT more.

"I fly the drake thats like a battleship"

EFT more.

"If Jeff is gonna fly a Drake so am I"

Jeff probably isn't the ranking FC in this conversation.

"Battleships are too slow"

Battleships aren't meant to be fast.

"MWD + Slasher, nuff said"

Kick from corp.

"I have Caldari Battleship, why do I need another BS?"

Torp ravens aren't terrible for POS bashes are they? I honestly don't know, the only caldari battleship I touch is the scorp.

"Only reason to train battleships is for carriers and I will never use one"

You've trained for them, might as well use them if the FC says to.

"It is suicide to fly a battleship outside of high-sec"

lol no

"I won't fly a battleship, cause I pay $15 a month, and you can't tell me what to train"

Kick from corp.

"In all seriousness... you can eat a bag of dicks"

Kick from corp.

"I won't train it, cause I don't want to train it"

Kick from corp.

I don't mean to tell you how to run your show, but to me this sounds largely like a discipline problem with your new pilots. The remainder just don't know any better, and a bit of time actually flying in space will learn them good. Or they'll refuse to join fleet ops because their ship is arse, and then you can call them on not pulling their weight.