Well, the thinking was to give the second EQP slot to GA, CA, AM suits and leave the Minmatar with one EQP slot and its sidearm. Still debating that one though.

Three thoughts:

1) Min scout without a sidearm wouldn't make any sense, the knife bonus would be wasted.

2) I really really like the idea of having 2 light frame variants for each race, the current scout and the type 2 with no sidearm and 2 EQ. That would be a great addition. More diversity >> less.

3) If for some reason CCP doesn't want to have 2 light frame variants for everyone then perhaps they should split the races: 2 races get "regular" scouts with a sidearm and 1 EQ, and 2 races get the type 2 scout. I'd vote for adding the 2 new scouts as type 2's and keep the sidearms on the existing scouts to be consistent.

(That could even be done as a trial and CCP can see how often each type of scout gets used and how successful they are. If the demand is there, perhaps they will then go forward with both types for all 4 races.)

I would rather not have the cal scout locked into using sniper rifles or cloaks for that matter. I would prefer that scouts got fitting reduction bonuses for biotics/profile modules and kept their sidearm. I still feel that the best choice for cloaks is to make it scout only equipment so scouts will get decent passive bonuses and won't be forced to use a specific piece of equipment.

I have no problem with removing sidearm slots to get a second equipment. Here's why.

With the cloak as a pretty much "must" on the scout that removes a lot of pressure to have a secondary weapon that could "handle" ranged encounters (ie SMG/ScrPistol) as an alternative to a close range weapon (shotgun/NK) in case we got caught out in the open. I'm assuming that the cloak is a viable method of moving across open territory etc... with a timer that is long enough to make it worthwhile.

I rarely if ever run with a sidearm anyways, preferring to use my fitting for additional modules or higher tier modules. Personally, I think that the extra versatility you get from a second equipment (especially in placing covert uplinks, so forth) is worth so much more than a "hold-out" weapon.

Besides this also means that (with the buff to scout profile to 35 dB) you can forgo the cloak in some occasions to get maybe a RE and nanohive or multiple prox mine fits. So many options are opened up with 2 equipment slots.

I do agree that some of the racials should keep their sidearm and 1 equipment slots. I disagree with the idea of having multiple configs of dropsuits within one race. There should be a cost to having the increased variety (that cost would be SP investment for a different racial suit).

My two biggest concerns over the proposed update have just been allayed. Other items are still concerning but less difficult to adapt to.

Edit: Also as to the caldari scout bonus. I'd much prefer a AOE profile decrease for friendlies. That would be a balance to the active scanners as well as passive scanning (which others have mentioned isn't used heavily enough to make enough of an impact to justify a racial suit that only effects that).

Otherwise if you're set on precision effects, then there has to be some method to also effect active scanning precisions.

Alternatively, I really like the UI effect of graying out / white noise on the Tacnet. That's a great visual and also very disturbing to the people it effects. It combines some psy-ops elements as well as eWAR. (make the skill increase radius by 5 m each level from a base of 10 out to perhaps 30 m at max skill) It could also depend on dropsuit precision to determine who it effects. So the Caldari (who would focus on high slots) have a reason to use a mix of precision enhancers as well as shield extenders.

With that idea in mind, an additional bonus of 2-3% precision enhancement per level might also be justified.

You're assuming Scout PG and CPU aren't getting an increase when it's been mentioned that they probably are.

Also, the Scan Profile (and presumably Precision as well) will be getting a significant reduction (as in buff).

Combine those with being the only suit that will be able to fit a Cloak with minimal compromise, and the loss of sidearm doesn't look quite so horrible.

The more I think about it, the more I can see validity in the argument that we shouldn't lose our Sidearm slot for it, but at the same time, it doesn't seem too harsh a penalty for the buffs coming our way.

Assuming every protosuit uses all their slots for tanking isn't what I'd call "conservative" personally. Even "fair" is quite a stretch. Also, assuming enough protosuits are well fit to use that as an average is beyond ridiculous. Even assuming the majority of protosuits have full proto fits is questionable.