You mention a lot the concept of "PVP-gating" as if it was a bad thing.
Indeed - as not all players enjoy PvP - and we all bought a game where PvP is optional in all game features (except CQC).
That some players bought the game for what it is not, rather than what it is, and are seeking to have it changed to suit their play-style preference, to the detriment of players who don't share their play-style preference, is obvious.
Powerplay is all about conflict of player groups fighting with each other. Nothing makes more sense than "PVP-gating" it.
While it offers competition between groups of players, it does not require any participant to engage in direct PvP. While PvP gating it may be the preferred outcome for some of those players who enjoy PvP, they are not the only players who require to be considered - and not all players agree with those who seek to PvP gate Powerplay.
The alternative to "PVP-gating" is leaving things as they are and see Powerplay die.
There are many possible outcomes - that's only one of them.
I'm repeating myself but Powerplay is opt-in and if someone doesn't tolerate PVP and find it tedious that's perfectly fine. They have all the other features Elite offers to enjoy the game in Solo.
Which refers to a post-modification version of Powerplay that does not and may never exist. As Powerplay is implemented in all three game modes, one need not tolerate PvP to engage in it at this time.
This proposal is but one of many made over the years that attempts to persuade Frontier to PvP-gate one or other game feature - it's not even unique - as many have suggested PvP-gating Powerplay before now - a potential change to Open only Powerplay even formed part of Frontier's investigative Flash Topics of May'18 even though Sandro was at pains to make clear that Powerplay was the only feature that Frontier would even possibly consider for Open only (which means that the BGS is not) and that the Flash Topics were an investigation, not a fait accompli, so no guarantee that any of the proposals would be implemented. Frontier haven't yet advised us of the result of that investigation other than Will advising us that some of the proposals in the first Flash Topic thread were being considered.
We'll see, in time, if Frontier choose to make Powerplay Open only - but I'm not holding my breath for the outcome, given that it's nearly two and a half years since the Flash Topics.
I suspect that Odyssey may offer some form of PvP content as the Sphere of Combat section of the original Odyssey announcement thread seems to suggests it it will, in my opinion - and, if it does, I'll be glad to see a new PvP feature for players to engage in.