I agree with the whole discovering thing, as a new Char inRP only should know what the faction knows - and that's more or less already reflected in the restarts. If I for example restart as Samura, I got an other knowledge of the map as, for example a GMG char.
On the other hand I don't really think the restarts are a problem. They allow you to build characters that are, inRP, already part of the faction. I mean, how much sense would it make for a Captain of the BAF, to just shoot lots of mollys, just to get access to the rank he already is in, just because the got promoted and is now allowed to fly a bomber?