On the dead is dead - iron mode aspect another cmdr and I were discussing this in game last night.
You can implement most of "iron mode" now. If you voice attack or some other way of binding a key to a macro - as self destruct is not actually mappable to a key....yet you can do the hard part. ONly bit missing is paying for the new escape pod.
Basically if yo do not self destruct the ship and the ship blows up start again (options clear save).
If you want to practise iron-man mode, that is as close as you can get. The only downside is in a PVP fight you will deny the other person the bounty (they arguable deserve), but that is life.
Simon