When will the Update come out? With the New Engineer system and everything. I just got murderously murdered by a fully engineered ORCA today in my a rated conda. And i dont want to start Engineering until the new BETTER system comes out.
If you don't want to do any engineering then at least unlock the engineers that you require now, assuming that you have not done so already.
As for loosing your Conda, you may want o play in Private Group or Solo until you have your ship modified to your satisfaction. That or stay out of the "Hot Spots".