it also doesn't happen very often. This is the first time I've seen it in months, at the very least. So I don't think we need an "auto-bot" unless it gets way worse, rejecting 1 crazy WR claim a year or whatever seems easier than making a bot system. (i knocked on wood for jinxing it, so we good)

There are a few places where it can be "advantageous" to use special beam attacks but for the most part, it's never worth it. in a casual sense. Examples of where people DO use it are almost exclusively in boss fights, and it is hard to do.

For example, the x-factor (Wave + charge) is used in the phantoon fight to deal a lot of damage to the boss fast, but to do it you need to be VERY well versed in the fight.

The X-Factor is also used in the Draygon fight along with short charging and a shine spark through Draygon to kill Draygon in 2 swoops.

The Ice Shield (Ice + Charge) is only used effectively in 2 places, the Ridley fight, and Mother Brain 2 fight. Even then, it is only used in the Low% Ice beam category of speedrunning to speed up those VERY difficult fights, so it is not even worth doing in a playthrough where you have an abundance of super missiles and Ice + Wave + Plasma + charge. (I assume you will have all the beams and almost every upgrade by the time you fight Ridley as you are going for 100% which makes the beam combo methods on Mother brain and Ridley SIGNIFICANTLY harder and less worth it)

In short, the game never has a spot where one of those abilities is specifically intended for progression or that makes the beam combo satisfying to use. I don't believe any room is really designed with these special beam attacks in mind.

If you really are looking for places to use it, you probably want to use it earlier in the game, as the later you go into the game the less effective they are and the better it is just to shoot enemies. BUT just for the fun-factor I would recommend (AKA personal opinion on which combos I think are the most fun) playing with the plasma + charge combo in places with a lot of enemies or using spazer + charge in bubble mountain (the big room in Norfair with all the bubbles) to kill the annoying flying guys (waivers)

Other than that just look at what each one does and think of ways it would help i guess, I have never really messed with them too much so I bet there are a lot of cool things you can do with them just to have fun in the game! If you think of any cool one's I would love to hear them tho!

MAYBE (I have not tested it, so who knows) the Spaser + charge combo hits enemies through the floor I THINK, so you might be able to use it on your way to get wave beam and speed booster where all those sea-horse looking monsters jump out of the floor and kill them before they even have a chance to jump up? I think that would be cool!

(This is the room I am talking about for the killing the seahorses on the way to wave beam)

From my knowledge, if you are playing the game MORE for Fun and LESS for speed (more casual / fast-run rather than a speed run), it's pretty beneficial to go straight to Draygon and skip everything because space jump is such an amazing movement upgrade for speed and fun at any skill level.

That metal door unlocks after Draygon along with the plasma door, so you cannot go through that way to get to Draygon.

Let me know if I missed anything, but Super Metroid is an active community so I'm sure someone will answer any questions you have :)