Perhaps its best if I start with something that many people who replied to this thread have misunderstood.
The small list of changes I raised up in my OP, are not a list of demands, nor or they all changes I agree should be implemented.
I see people attacking them outright, which I am sure provided an easy target.
I thought this was clear, but perhaps the way I wrote it left too much room for interpretation.
Here is what my point was;
1) I think the way capital ship combat works in Freelancer is frantic, works poorly in group scenarios, and not something I am a fan of.
2) I think something should be done to make it slower, according to posters here, 20 minutes for a 1v1 is current speed, and I don't think this is too fast obviously, but fleet engagements I think are too fast, and I regard fleet engagements to be more important to 1v1's in Conn. If it were possible to remain the same for 1v1, but slow down fleet engagements, that would be ideal.
3) The list of changes, as specifically mentioned were not a set nor a demand, but ideas to be considered individually, and to be a basis of debate and other ideas to be suggested as a way to make fleet engagements more enjoyable. I was brainstorming what may help, I even provided downsides to each change as I was keenly aware that there are causes and effects to making such drastic changes.
To those that replied with what can be summarized as "get gud", I'm not sure that counts as an argument.
I will be honest, as mentioned in my OP I haven't played for 1 year, and what, 4~5 years before that? I don't have any characters, never mind battleships,
Perhaps that may warrant the comment that I am not qualified to make the argument that capital ships combat is not good as is, but I feel I have reasonable enough background experience and reasoning to suggest that the current system does not appeal to what I would deem as fun.
For the record I mostly played VHF/Bomber when I played, I obviously had caps, but in group fights it was not fun.
My dilemma is that now, having moved to Japan from the UK, my ping is far too high for enjoyable VHF combat!
I am glad that people enjoy the capital ship combat as is, and I sincerely hope that enough people do to keep this server alive for years more, the activity dropped sometime after the first time I quit, and I hope it was not related people losing enjoyment in the combat.
Also, I'm confused, is battleship combat hard or easy? Mixed messages from multiple posters.