It would make more sense if the weapons were finished (AV, etc.), but there's an issue introduced by "getting rid of weaponry" as you say. Since it also serves to unlock Sidearms and Heavy weapons, so this works as just a light weapon solution.

Your plan would also make for inflated costs for some sidearms and heavy weapons relative to other races, as a "Minmatar Heavy Weapon Operation" would only be good for one weapon, and likewise for an "Amarr Sidearm Operation".

It would make more sense if the weapons were finished (AV, etc.), but there's an issue introduced by "getting rid of weaponry" as you say. Since it also serves to unlock Sidearms and Heavy weapons, so this works as just a light weapon solution.

Your plan would also make for inflated costs for some sidearms and heavy weapons relative to other races, as a "Minmatar Heavy Weapon Operation" would only be good for one weapon, and likewise for an "Amarr Sidearm Operation".

The Reload Skills in the diagram all read 'Rail Rifle Reload Skill'.

It would make more sense if the weapons were finished (AV, etc.), but there's an issue introduced by "getting rid of weaponry" as you say. Since it also serves to unlock Sidearms and Heavy weapons, so this works as just a light weapon solution.

Your plan would also make for inflated costs for some sidearms and heavy weapons relative to other races, as a "Minmatar Heavy Weapon Operation" would only be good for one weapon, and likewise for an "Amarr Sidearm Operation".

Dust 514 is planed to have more than heavy weapon per race. Also what do you mean it would inflate costs relative to other races?

More sidearms and likely more heavy weapons per race are likely planned (I'm sure each race will have at least 2 heavy weapons by the next 5 yrs). There are the racial knives, and it seems that every race will eventually have their own SMGs (Caldari will get magsec SMG) in addition to the pistols.
I don't get the problem with removing weaponry, just jump straight into the racial sidearm operation to get the racial sidearm(s) you want. Same for heavy weapon.

Also to the OP, what level racial set skill should be required to get the weapon specific operation skills?

fitting should be swapped with proficiency.

fitting skills is redundant in its current place

first step is unlocking the weapon, the second step should be working it into your build and then last step should be to increase its damage output.

At the moment, there isn't even a projected date for a heavy weapon for each race. After that, I don't suspect additional heavy weapons will be coming any quicker. This could mean that Amarr Heavy W Operation/etc. will effectively be skills to unlock single weapon for a very long time.

The sidearm skills have similar issues in a lack of scope across the various races. If you go back to the weapon range/damage profile blog, the only listed sidearm for Amarr is the Scrambler Pistol. At some point, we're due to get the Magsec, Ion, and Bolt Pistols, but nothing else was on their roadmap at the point which they made that chart (where the missing Heavy Weapons were just called "TBA").

So, assume they finish adding all the weapons that were on that "plan", Amarr Sidearm Op: Scrambler Pistol (one weapon), Gallente: Ion Pistol (one weapon), Caldari: Magsec, Bolt, Nova Knife (3 weapons), Minmatar: SMG, Flaylock (2 weapons). That's just going from their projected work as well. This means that the relative value of skills is uneven, with Amarr Sidearm getting you one weapons, and Caldari getting you three.

This exist to a lesser extent with light weapons. You listed basically everything they've shown as planned so far. If things weren't even in the concept at fanfest or when that dev blog was released, then it doesn't speak well for them releasing anytime soon since we still have received weapons that they were using in internal matches before fanfest (half a year ago). So, an Amarr Light Op skill unlocks 2 weapons, and... same deal. Races that have more complete weapon sets have more valuable skills. We haven't heard a peep about any other Amarr light weapons or sidearms (unless you count the other racial knives) - that could be a LOOOONG wait for parity.

That's what I meant by it would work better if they'd finished the weapons. Until that point, it favors races with more complete content.

I like this idea.

It requires the weapon tree to be fully fleshed out though.

I'd go a step further and nest sidearm, light and heavy weapons under another racial weapon skill.

They don't.

Some do when I look at the diagram (Mass Driver, Plasma Cannon, and Swarm Launcher). Also, Rail Rifle Ammo Capacity appears for Snipper Riffles.

No thanks. It should be:

Hybrid Weapon Operation
--->[Weapon] Operation
Laser Weapon Operation
--->[Weapon] Operation
Projectile Weapon Operation
--->[Weapon] Operation
Missile Weapon Operation
--->[Weapon] Operation

And get rid of the separate Sidearm and Heavy Weapon skills altogether.