What about the argument for organic PvP in open play that affects the wider galaxy? Doesn't seem to be on your list there.
Sounds like you're trying to dictate how others play the game, which is something you guys usually speak like you're against...
The Powerplay idea was proposed by the lead developer, nobody forced them to bring it up, so naturally it will get discussed a lot - especially as Fdev have never confirmed what they're going to do one way or the other.
I'm staying on topic with PP in this thread, so didn't mention "organic PvP".
Whatever. You ask me "what about organic PvP" - I direct that question back to you, because PvP combat is not my thing.
It would also depend entirely on what you mean by "organic PvP" - whether that is out-and-out ganking solely of non-combat vessels or simply shooting at everything in sight, or picking targets that are PvP capable... whichever it is, this clearly requires an opt-in on the part of both players or groups of players... ie, to play in Open... but I re-iterate that this is available to you right now, just not in a served-on-a-plate format. Actually, nothing is served-on-a-plate in E: D, so I don't know why PvP combat should be any different?
Please don't put words in my mouth - I'm definitely NOT telling anyone how to play their game - I'm merely cataloguing the gameplay aspects that are available in the game right now. Like I said - if PP-oriented PvP combat is your want - then this is actually available right now - RIGHT NOW - however, I agree with you that this would only be for like minded PvP combat players.
If you are stating for a fact that "nobody" is PP in Open, then there would be a solid conclusion to be drawn form that. ("nobody" is a tall statement = time zones, platforms, instancing?)
When I asked what your metric is - is it winning at PP? Or, is it PvP combat? It would appear that if "nobody" is PP in Open, then the concensus is that the metric is winning at PP, and the further deduction is that players are, on the whole, less interested in PvP combat than they are at winning at PP.
Like I said - if there are a large group of players who would rather PvP combat - then it takes a quorum of LIKE MINDED individuals to eschew this winning metric, and go out for PvP combat instead.
There are things I like DOING in E: D that means I cannot do some other things that I also like to do. Often, activities are mutually exclusive. So what I say to myself is "Screw <that> bit, even though I'd like to go and do <that>, I'm off to do <this> instead, because I enjoy it more."
If there really were an entire horde of LIKE MINDED players, you'd be doing PvP combat much, much more often, I suspect. If I were a PvP combat lover, then I for one would certainly be out with a group of other players (PvP combat is optimumly served amongst a group, is it not?) and be saying Screw Hauling in PG - lets get out as a team and take the fight to the enemy - get a mixed fleet of players in combat ships and transport ships filled with merits, and raid the objective system in a coordinated fashion (Yeah - I'm military if you hadn't already guessed).
The fact that you keep saying that this isn't actually happening really undermines my confidence that what you are saying about PvP combat being so popular that it should be catered for by EXCLUSIVE content. Seems to be a minority appeal, simply from the fact that you all keep saying that there is nobody already doing this kind of stuff.
So, until you've all gone "screw merit farming in Solo and PG - lets get out to the more enjoyable PvP combat", then I'll simply believe that it's the winning at PP that is the priority and not the PvP combat aspect. Like I keep saying - nail your colours to the mast - and this content is available to you RIGHT NOW.
Please excuse me if I still don't see the issue being campaigned here.
Yours Aye
Mark H