OP: My vote is a hard YES for a planet (buyable) DLC and F.Dev, if the content merited it, I'll pay the asking price.
Other games, already offer this planet variability and Elite is in need of an update in this department. I'd be OK with this update being a paid DLC offering additional gameplay as long it didn't break any existing gameplay.
For the comments that highlight some gotya scenarios, yes, I accept that. If you don't have the DLC, you won't have access to some the new game play. It is what it is!
For the comments already explaining why this won't happen, simply, I hope you are wrong (and worry you might know more than I do and are correct)
For the comments that mention gameplay aspects, I agree for sure, it's a hand and glove situation for sure.
In my dream ....exploring a world for a particular mining opportunity, say at the behest of your faction for example or in competition with other factions comes to mind. Selling the intel (as per the current exploration data mechanic) followed by actual mining operations (as per the mining mechanic) and dealing with 'challenges and trouble makers' (as per the combat mechanic, both "on foot" and "in ship"), not to mention expanded 'science' gameplay with biology and new material identification with Engineers driving demands and.... and .... and .....
puh! ... wha ... wake up man ...it's just a dream ... it's OK ....get with it .......
F.Dev - what ya' say, 2025 could be great year *, a paid DLC with this as the core, you know it'll make you some spondulicks!
*edit: Ok announce it in 2025 and deliver it perhaps by mid 2027
S!