People are never going to agree over the SP cap and ways to stop SP farming like AFK players etc, so why not remove SP all together?

My idea is the same as most others who have talked of similar and that's that you start off with the basic weapons in game and play to unlock new versions by using the item.

Lets say you have assault rifle level 1, to get to level 2 you need say 100 points, an assist using the AR gives say 0.5 points, a kill gives 1 point and a headshot gives 1.5.

Cardio modules etc, every use gives 0.5 points, using for longer duration gives 1 point. each time.

The current system is like a soldier joining the army, training to do first aid but deciding he wants to turn that skill into marksmanship, or he's trained as an explosives expert but decides he wants to use his skills to become a tank driver..... It wouldn't happen like that in life so why allow it in game?

Fact is, you use a gun often, you become better at it over time. If you drive a tank, you become better over time.

You do not however drive a tank for 10yrs and suddenly become awesome at sniping as a result.

I've been asking simply to get what I earn, this is a fairer more balanced way to progress.

Using this method it means you can keep boosters as the active ones give a 0.5 bonus to every action performed in game, passive boosters are applied to a skill and stay on that skill until you either change it or the skill hits max (lvl5). Passive would give say 0.5 points every 1.5 or 2 seconds instead of the current 1 SP. This eliminates people simply buying passive boosters for free points when they're out doing whatever, they'll still need to work to earn most of the unlocks (upgrades)

To add to that - your comments about it not relating to real life learning processes are irrelevant because the way it is posited in the Eve universe is that you purchase skills and implant them into your brain/body - this is why you have to spend isk on skill books. Mercs gain SP over time like it's another form of currency that you can spend on whatever skills you want - it's not the same as experience points in games like Skyrim (which is the system you seem to be describing).

The strongest argument for this suggestion is the "if I spend my whole life driving cars, I can't be good at painting" theory. That is, specialising in one area should not contribute to the mastery of another.

The argument against is the fact that we are not exactly mortal humans in this universe. Death is obsolete, consciousness can be transferred. To possess such control over consciousness in New Eden must mean we can alter it, too. Hence, skill books. In this universe, skills, which are basically unique patterns of connections of neurons in your brain, can be taught through books because our capacity to learn is infinite and malleable; you aren't ageing.

Besides, the freedom it gives us as players is refreshing.

And furthermore, the proposed system of becoming proficient at certain equipment by using it can still lead to a huge gap between newbies and veterans; something that all MMORPGs have, but FPS' cannot let get out of hand.

So either way, there will still be need to have some kind of restriction, or else none at all.