I admit I haven't read this thread because I expect it to be a mess of 'don't touch my solo' or 'PvP griefers!' ad nauseum. I skimmed the OP, and it sounds like you want us to discuss Sandro's proposed 'game mode hand grenade'. I assume he called it that because he knew it'd be a can of worms he was opening.
Sandro's handgrenade is certainly still an option, but it's an option only Open mode players like. It divorces personal merits from Power status, which likely adds further complications and would be to code. I wonder, in fact, if it would encourage CMDRs to play in Open with firewalls blocking p2p connections. FDev still thinks they're in Open, so the mechanics treat it as such, but they never connect with another CMDR, making it essentially Solo. That, of course, is a mind-numbing nightmare of crap to deal with.
One change could allow us to view Power Play and Power Play PvP totally differently. Have a Kill Warrant Scanner display not only active and dormant bounties, but also a merit count held by the CMDR (i.e. not delivered). The Manifest Scanner already shows you the tonnage/merits a cargo ship is holding, and now the KWS will show you the merits held by the NPC or CMDR.
NPCs
Every combat NPC outside of a Combat Zone can hold 30 merits, and this number will never change. That does mean that destroying an NPC ship while you're hauling cargo will give you +30 merits towards fortification, which happened at one point in turmoil systems, so it isn't an impossibility for them to code. (Since PP NPCs only attack you if you're hauling cargo or carrying merits, then you would only earn merits from them if you are carrying merits or hauling cargo. That's the theory, at least.) Taking this a step further, PP NPCs in a CZ currently are static at 10 merits a ship, but what if PP NPCs in a CZ gained a merit for every ship they destroyed? If you're destroying every enemy NPC as they arrive, every ship is worth 1 merit, but if those ships destroy other NPCs, their internal merit count increases, and the Deadly NPC Anacondas, by the time you destroy them, will be worth 10-30 merits. That Deadly Eagle might even net you 15 merits. That's an improved concept to staggering a ship's CZ merits based on ship size or combat ranking, isn't it?
So now that we've rationalised and monetised NPC merits, let's take a look at the PvP/Open mode incentives. Step one: that noise. Do not degrade Solo or PG NPC encounters because 'Open is harder'. 99% of the time you're facing the same NPCs they are. It's not harder or riskier. Not until you encounter a CMDR.
CMDRs
For a pledged CMDR to become fair game, you'll have to manifest or warrant scan them to see that they're carrying merits. That way you can avoid the upcoming Pilots' Federation galaxy-wide bounties that appear to be coming with 2.4. Now, instead of being limited to merit denial, what if PvP allowed you to earn those merits the other CMDR is carrying? I propose a simple straight 1:1 exchange of merits when engaged in Power Play PvP combat. That is your incentive to fly in Open. It is also strong incentive to provide escorts for fortification, and reward those escorts who successfully destroy an underminer.
Let's analyse some potential situations so we can see how this can completely change the imbalance of Power Play. Remember, without a warrant or manifest scan, not merits will be rewarded, and you're likely to earn a Pilots' Federation bounty if the target isn't Wanted.
Situation A: Combat Opposition
You got the jump on that silly Expert CMDR from your stealth mine laying Asp? You don't just deny him 1000 merits, you take them. And since you're a skilled hand at this, you stay in system until your ammunition runs out. If someone gets the jump on you, they re-claim all of those merits you took.
Situation B: Combat Expansion
You've got a wing of CMDRs in a CZ, and you're decimating it. Granted, at this point every ship is only earning you 1 or 5 merits, because they don't have time to destroy any NPCs. But wait! One of your wingmen goes down to a stealth Cobra! Now, it's a 3v1 chase to reclaim those merits before he can turn them in! (No scanning required in PP CZs. This might be the one change that might require more coding than FDev is prepared to do.)
Situation C: Cargo Opposition
If you catch a CMDR in Open, I hope you have that manifest scanner, because you could massively boost your opposition count. And now defensive patrols in support of the expansion can earn merits.
Situation D: Fortification
You're hauling 700 tonnes 100 light years because that's just what you do. You've never seen an enemy CMDR in the 12 months you've been fortifying, and you like it that way. But now, every time Sirius Security NPC interdicts you, you get +30 merits to your fortification haul.
Situation E: Undermining
You're flying around the anarchy control system waiting for PP NPCs to interdict, because you're just out for your personal merit count, not the Power. Well, this time you catch a CMDR in a shieldless Type 9! This isn't a Battle Cattle, so it's rubble and ash in 5 seconds. Provided you used your manifest scanner, you've not got 532 merits. Without the manifest scanner, you've got 30 merits. Well done, there.
Situation F: Control System Defense
You just heard that some frag assault ship destroyed your logistic pilot two systems away. You're there immediately, and see him. You get lucky and he's rubble and ash before he jumps out. And you've just collected his entire 4000 merits he was building for a snipe. A quick trip to the starport and that system is now fortified. Chances are, the control system is now over-fortified, or maybe you caught the tail end of a week long snipe and a quick trip around all the control systems fortifies every single one that CMDR was sniping.
Situation G: HQ Defense
I realise that changing the system this way will promote wings of squatters in HQs with in-bound fortification. I'm sorry about that, but there have always been some defences against that, and every single one of those defensive options will remain open. Additionally, HQs could get absurd fortification and undermining triggers, upwards of several million, that way CMDRs can earn merits while defending HQ, even if they aren't affecting fortification or undermining of any control system.
Situation H: Preparation
Just like Preparation H, this is something no one wants to ever have any part in. Since stealing the merits of a preparation hauler affects nothing, PvP here is discouraged simply because it is not encouraged. You could count them towards the CMDRs personal merit count, but they wouldn't affect the power play map. Maybe those CMDRs could take their 'stolen' merits and deliver them to their preparation target of choice. (Oh, right, that's the way to do it.) Prep Wars would take on a whole new meaning.
And remember, without the appropriate scan, you don't steal merits. This mechanic should allow Power Play PvP to avoid accruing Pilots' Federation bounties as well.
The solution isn't to ruin Solo and PG modes for Power Play. The solution is to finally give incentives for consensual PvP content in Open.
Will cheaters still abuse the p2p nature of the game? Yeah. That's a totally different argument. This pitch can hopefully make Power Play interesting again, without any major changes to the way PP mechanics work.
Sandro's handgrenade is certainly still an option, but it's an option only Open mode players like. It divorces personal merits from Power status, which likely adds further complications and would be to code. I wonder, in fact, if it would encourage CMDRs to play in Open with firewalls blocking p2p connections. FDev still thinks they're in Open, so the mechanics treat it as such, but they never connect with another CMDR, making it essentially Solo. That, of course, is a mind-numbing nightmare of crap to deal with.
One change could allow us to view Power Play and Power Play PvP totally differently. Have a Kill Warrant Scanner display not only active and dormant bounties, but also a merit count held by the CMDR (i.e. not delivered). The Manifest Scanner already shows you the tonnage/merits a cargo ship is holding, and now the KWS will show you the merits held by the NPC or CMDR.
NPCs
Every combat NPC outside of a Combat Zone can hold 30 merits, and this number will never change. That does mean that destroying an NPC ship while you're hauling cargo will give you +30 merits towards fortification, which happened at one point in turmoil systems, so it isn't an impossibility for them to code. (Since PP NPCs only attack you if you're hauling cargo or carrying merits, then you would only earn merits from them if you are carrying merits or hauling cargo. That's the theory, at least.) Taking this a step further, PP NPCs in a CZ currently are static at 10 merits a ship, but what if PP NPCs in a CZ gained a merit for every ship they destroyed? If you're destroying every enemy NPC as they arrive, every ship is worth 1 merit, but if those ships destroy other NPCs, their internal merit count increases, and the Deadly NPC Anacondas, by the time you destroy them, will be worth 10-30 merits. That Deadly Eagle might even net you 15 merits. That's an improved concept to staggering a ship's CZ merits based on ship size or combat ranking, isn't it?
So now that we've rationalised and monetised NPC merits, let's take a look at the PvP/Open mode incentives. Step one: that noise. Do not degrade Solo or PG NPC encounters because 'Open is harder'. 99% of the time you're facing the same NPCs they are. It's not harder or riskier. Not until you encounter a CMDR.
CMDRs
For a pledged CMDR to become fair game, you'll have to manifest or warrant scan them to see that they're carrying merits. That way you can avoid the upcoming Pilots' Federation galaxy-wide bounties that appear to be coming with 2.4. Now, instead of being limited to merit denial, what if PvP allowed you to earn those merits the other CMDR is carrying? I propose a simple straight 1:1 exchange of merits when engaged in Power Play PvP combat. That is your incentive to fly in Open. It is also strong incentive to provide escorts for fortification, and reward those escorts who successfully destroy an underminer.
Let's analyse some potential situations so we can see how this can completely change the imbalance of Power Play. Remember, without a warrant or manifest scan, not merits will be rewarded, and you're likely to earn a Pilots' Federation bounty if the target isn't Wanted.
Situation A: Combat Opposition
You got the jump on that silly Expert CMDR from your stealth mine laying Asp? You don't just deny him 1000 merits, you take them. And since you're a skilled hand at this, you stay in system until your ammunition runs out. If someone gets the jump on you, they re-claim all of those merits you took.
Situation B: Combat Expansion
You've got a wing of CMDRs in a CZ, and you're decimating it. Granted, at this point every ship is only earning you 1 or 5 merits, because they don't have time to destroy any NPCs. But wait! One of your wingmen goes down to a stealth Cobra! Now, it's a 3v1 chase to reclaim those merits before he can turn them in! (No scanning required in PP CZs. This might be the one change that might require more coding than FDev is prepared to do.)
Situation C: Cargo Opposition
If you catch a CMDR in Open, I hope you have that manifest scanner, because you could massively boost your opposition count. And now defensive patrols in support of the expansion can earn merits.
Situation D: Fortification
You're hauling 700 tonnes 100 light years because that's just what you do. You've never seen an enemy CMDR in the 12 months you've been fortifying, and you like it that way. But now, every time Sirius Security NPC interdicts you, you get +30 merits to your fortification haul.
Situation E: Undermining
You're flying around the anarchy control system waiting for PP NPCs to interdict, because you're just out for your personal merit count, not the Power. Well, this time you catch a CMDR in a shieldless Type 9! This isn't a Battle Cattle, so it's rubble and ash in 5 seconds. Provided you used your manifest scanner, you've not got 532 merits. Without the manifest scanner, you've got 30 merits. Well done, there.
Situation F: Control System Defense
You just heard that some frag assault ship destroyed your logistic pilot two systems away. You're there immediately, and see him. You get lucky and he's rubble and ash before he jumps out. And you've just collected his entire 4000 merits he was building for a snipe. A quick trip to the starport and that system is now fortified. Chances are, the control system is now over-fortified, or maybe you caught the tail end of a week long snipe and a quick trip around all the control systems fortifies every single one that CMDR was sniping.
Situation G: HQ Defense
I realise that changing the system this way will promote wings of squatters in HQs with in-bound fortification. I'm sorry about that, but there have always been some defences against that, and every single one of those defensive options will remain open. Additionally, HQs could get absurd fortification and undermining triggers, upwards of several million, that way CMDRs can earn merits while defending HQ, even if they aren't affecting fortification or undermining of any control system.
Situation H: Preparation
And remember, without the appropriate scan, you don't steal merits. This mechanic should allow Power Play PvP to avoid accruing Pilots' Federation bounties as well.
The solution isn't to ruin Solo and PG modes for Power Play. The solution is to finally give incentives for consensual PvP content in Open.
Will cheaters still abuse the p2p nature of the game? Yeah. That's a totally different argument. This pitch can hopefully make Power Play interesting again, without any major changes to the way PP mechanics work.