That's a rather broad claim. As point of fact I am not against modding games, I used to play tournament level Desert Combat when that was popular, although it was a few years ago now. The point being you are the one claiming that FDEV should allow modding because it's good for any game, yet the only examples of modding you want is a mod to change one of the core game play streams of ED that many players enjoy exactly as it is and would prefer it to remain as it is. Making exploration easy mode would probably turn many current explorers away from the game, indeed there are some players who no longer play due to the way FDEV themselves have changed it with the FSS to make things easier.
I would be quite happy modding of the cockpit lights and colours, sure reskin ships in whatever you like as long as it isn't invisi-skins of course, that wouldn't be modding that would be cheating, and adjust light levels and things. I currently use Elite Observatory that lets me know in game when I have found interesting stuff, that's a mod, and most mods for MMO's are similar in function, UI skins and stuff that allows you to manage assets and possessions easier. Yes let's have mods for managing modules and stuff, no issue there, but stay well away from core game play because I don't believe I have ever played a moddable MMO that let you do that sort of thing unless it was directly banned by the makers, for instance private WoW servers.
Leave the core game play to the devs, they have the data that tells them what people use and don't use and how they use it. If they saw that no-one was exploring I am sure they would adjust jump ranges and change other stuff to encourage exploration, but I don't think that's a problem except for a tiny minority of probably temporary players.
Discussing modding for Elite is moot, as it will never happen, for two reason, as I see it:
1. Frontier is too paranoid about piracy, but hilarious part is that game sell for peanuts like every month with massive discounts. And wouldn't want to lose control of their product with customers' wallets.
2. Since with true offline mode people will be pumping real meaty content into the game, like new careers, new ships, overhauling all activities giving it actual substance and depth, online modes will go completely empty withing a month at best, so there wouldn't be anybody they could sell cosmetics to, as you would be able to get better ones for free with mods and have game with most bugs fixed, plus absolutely mindblowing, deep content to enjoy.
To elaborate, I'm not against E-D microtransaction model in any way, I think that prices on extras are fair, and they have all the right to sell them. What bothers me is that actual gameplay content production is well far behind, compared to revamped cash shop and cosmetics production. Also, bug wise, game is in pretty heavy neglect.
'You folks seem to forget that we're talking about VIDEO GAME', says man who is comparing playing a VIDEO GAME to inventing the wheel. No, your desire to purchase success in a game is not inventing the wheel. You can thrash about trying to claim that you're being revolutionary, but you're not. You're playing a game which asks you to do x in order to get y. But you think you're too important to bother with x and want to purchase y.
What exactly do you think is going to happen once you buy your big jump? You're going to tick off a visit to Beagle Point? Trust me, if you're not interested in exploration, you're not going to enjoy Beagle Point. Or are you just trying to purchase having your name on some stars? I hope not, because that would truly be pathetic. I'd like to imagine that nobody who goes near this game is so low as to want to buy a tag.
All the things you list are different from your plan, because you can't buy them with real world money. You have to put in effort for engineering, you have to put in effort for an overpowered combat ship, you have to put in effort for everything. You don't get to buy an advantage. If all you want is to spend money so you can claim to have 'succeeded' at something, I believe Candy Crush is still available.
You seem to have quite twisted interpretation of my post and completely ignoring my points doesn't help it either... I didn't say that I need jump extension for Arx, I just pointed out that it's most likely option, considering where things are heading lately.
On the side note, I'm very confident that jump extension will happen, either due extra grind, via Carrier, or as a last resort - with Arx, because they recognize the need. Quite significant extension happened over the years, which again, you seem to ignore, and saying you do not use or enjoy these changes, would be quite hypocritical on your side.
As a rough example, 100 (free, just for you not to interpret it in your way again) Ly jump default for every ship won't ruin anyones life or gameplay. Moving to Beagle would still be a long, hard slog even with this. The reason I want jump extension, is to stare less time at loading screens and get to my destinations, either to sectors I'd like to explore, or back home, in tangible time. When you have 1-2 hours tops, to play in evening after work, and all you can do is make few jump while moving on snails pace - isn't gameplay, it's a tedium, as well as engineering. You repeat same, braindead action countless times to get stupidly overpowered stuff. It's an artifitial extension of gameplay, seen by me only in maybe some free MMORPGs. No idea how one can view it as something positive.
Why do you keep saying that it's some kind of achievement or reward for hard work is beyond me. Player should be rewarded for actions that require skill or real effort. Staring at loading screen while hitting single button every minute, or relogging to collect mats 100 times over isn't skill or effort, it's a simple timesink.
