I'd also like to hear from CCP if this is even still the outlook going forward, or if they've begun... "researching other venues"

So I keep hearing people ask for petty new maps, and for good reason! However.. CCP said, almost a year ago...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNmCRti9dFM&list=SPDDA989F65CD6E98A

which they called "seeding the universe". TL;DW, basically they intend to make each district on each planet different. not just different installations like Manus, but different "unique" terrain, much like youd expect from actual nature.

so in essence, when CCP actually implements this, the only way to play the same terrain map will be to play on the same planet AND district! This IMO was one of the most intriguing prospects DUST offered last year.

so asking for new maps now may seem logical if this were any other FPS, but I have visions of fighting battles on forest worlds, vast open plains, draught-ridden lakebeds, even outskirts of grand cities/capitals! I would really like to hear at fanfest that the seeding will be complete for launch!

I'd also like to hear from CCP if this is even still the outlook going forward, or if they've begun... "researching other venues"

This is not a hard thing to do if you are making single player maps or none pvp maps. Star Trek Online basically did this with their game. Its a random generator of the server choosing a random map then seeding that map with random pre-built buildings. The issue is...

1) making the maps fit the planet the way CCP has talked about (ie how they have talked about each planet having different and unique aspects like mountain ranges, plains ect that differ from any other world) and then always be the same including the map layouts for each district on each planet. Remeber that after one game on a district that district will forever look the same no matter who is their, giving defenders a defiant advantage of knowing every corner of their districts.

2) these maps generating in such a way that all these building block (turrets, supply depots, points and building) deploy in such a way that avoid every game looking the same, they do not stack in one sides favor. Pretty much writing a code that says that yes you drop all this random crap on a terrain but dont drop all the guns and cru's on one side and all the buildings and points on the other side.

In the last CAST514 they did talk about how they were still on this path, its coming, but its not balanced yet. I too would like new maps, but I also want them to be good maps, not HALO Forge maps that some 12 year old built so all their buddies had all the good stuff and the guys they are fighting have ****.