Why would you ever be fighting on foot in open space? I can't think of any scenario where that would occur.
I haven't played shattered horizons, but I looked on a few videos. It's interesting, I don't think there are many Zero-G combat games out there.
The thing is, Elite isn't a FPS. Even when first person movement and first person fighting is implemented, it still will not be a FPS! This, I think, gives Elite the freedom, or maybe even the need, to move away from FPS tropes when implementing first-person combat.
I think combat on foot should be completely brutal. Something like Arma, maybe. When not carrying reactive armor, a hit practically anywhere should almost always incapacitate you. Reactive armor should be rendered useless after just a few hits, and conventional armor should only slightly reduce the effectiveness of enemy fire.
Owning military materiel is considered illegal in most places. Personal defence weapons like pistols and knives are always allowed onboard, but in many places you are not allowed to walk around armed on stations or planets.
Murder is severly punished, and various forms of suit monitors and transponders make murder without being detected almost impossible on worlds with law.
There is also non-lethal combat and melee weapons. These include things like Electric pistols, Stun Batons, Knives, Daggers, and your own body. In zero-g, momentum is extremely important. For example, supporting yourself against the structure of your ship and punching or kicking your opponent while they are in free flight is likely to smack them into a wall.
Combat on foot should be rare, unless you actively seek it.
This is how I envision personal combat in E: D.
