Multi-role is tough no matter the tech. It can be done, but you give up things to do it, or it becomes REALLY expensive.
For example, early on, an escort frigate can be setup with two 10cm railguns and escort orders, and three or four of them do a reasonably good job, especially against early missiles. In fact, until gauss tech comes up a ways, railguns are better. Once you get to three or four shots out of the gauss, the flexibility of turrets really starts to show.
I do use layered missile defense. At very low tech, I usually don't use AMMs, they are too slow, and too costly for a fledgling empire. Railguns work great, and are dual purpose, and are a starting tech.
Once I get up to Ion tech, I am usually fielding a class of AMM destroyer and light cruiser escorts armed with just AMMs. Then there is a class of light escorts setup with gauss and lasers. A single destroyer with one triple laser turret and two triple gauss pumps out a lot of shots.
Past that, its just upscaling the design. So a bigger escort cruisers still sticks with guns or missiles, just more of them.
Going multi-role, like AMMs and guns can be done, and can work well for small engagements, but will not be as efficient as a dedicated ship design, and will be way more expensive.