While there are a lot of legitimate criticisms to be made of the current mod, I think it all boils down to whether you-- as an individual player-- can RP/PvP the way you want to.
I can't speak for any one else's cherished RP, but I know that mine works just fine on the current mod/map.
I like to fly Gaian, so I'm used to a bit of an uphill battle.
What I've discovered is that in the current mod, its actually a lot easier.
The Wild infestation in Newcastle has died down, the BrGaian restart works pretty well and our weaponry can hold its own a bit better against the NPCs.
But the best thing is that playing as a Gaian in the current mod allows you to completely IGNORE Gallia.
We can still travel all through Bretonia and the surrounding territories with the same enemies as before and we're largely unaffected by the Gallic invasion, because we're neutral to them.
We don't need to worry about any of the hassles with capships because we have none.
Our ships cut right through asteroid fields like a surgeon's scalpel through epithelium.
It is fairly easy to find enemies of the miner, trader, police, military and paramilitary varieties to pew with, expostulate at, or otherwise interact.
In the great Outcast/Corsair conflict we come down on the Corsair side, but needn't concern ourselves with the snarl made of the Sigmas or Omicrons. Our reach into the Taus and Omegas stays pretty much the same. We will help our Corsair brethren out wherever needed, but that will be mostly to help them extend their reach into Bretonia-- who should be weak enough to knock down a few pegs without too much hassle.
Newcastle is more of a trading thoroughfare now that Leeds is inhospitable to most freighters trying to fly between Kusari and Bretonia. In addition, several commodities have high sell-points deep into Newcastle space. This provides even more opportunities for Gaians to impede and obstruct. And in Newcastle, who wants to fly the tremendous distances to the alternate jumphole? Traders will just pile up on the tradelanes to be pillaged and checked for contraband.
What we lack is numbers, but we do not lack opportunity.
I know its counter-intuitive, but if you hate Gallia and want to operate in House space without having to deal with them as either friend or foe, fly Gaian.
Then you don't have to care what Gallia does. It makes no difference either way.
But don't overthink it, just get out there and fly.
Cut back on systems that aint needed-A LOT OF EM,make distances shorter-promote more contact between players,get the mining-trading system back and make the routes go through high populated areas