CCP should work out a deal with SOE to make DUST 514 a modded Planetside 2 server.
I know what you're thinking.Hear me out though:
Planetside 2 is a robust mixed arms game. It can handle linked facilities, shields, walls, gates, defenses, canyons, tunnels, open fields, air combat, vegetation... It has a lot of the pieces we all were expecting of DUST 514. Features in development include constructable defenses, orbital bombardments, continental conquest and a revamped resource system that makes wars of attrition meaningful. Those features are expected by the end of the year.
DUST 514 could be a fantastic high health, 4 (or even more!) faction mod of PS2 with tighter resources for special equipment and greater faction diversity. Without worrying about how to make aiming work or even how to design the netcode, they can just focus on their strengths -
*****art and asymmetrical balancing.*****Using the resources already in place, DUST can translate a lot of their themes using PS2 mechanics.
The "Forever War"
Faction Warfare takes place on 4 main planets at launch, 1 for each faction. These can be as large or small as CCP likes but I recommend at least PS2 continent sized. The alert code can be changed to trigger access to special areas such as asteroids, pirate bases or space stations and even maybe titans. I'm sure with just a little arm twisting these can actually be coded to trigger based on events in EVE, since SOE already has api code for exporting the results.
Interplanetary Travel Network
Instead of warping around the maps with the gates, you warp to warbarges. These act as VR rooms in space. If you want to travel to a new planet, you have to wait in the VR room to simulate "travel time". Use the code for crowded servers in a new way to make space travel feel meaningful. Fight clubs (with EVE betting possible with integrated twitch streaming in PS2) could also take place aboard the barges.
Veni, vidi, vici
SOE is delivering outfit capturing and continent conquest soon. Complete with redecoration and resource perks. This could very easily be small isolated areas outside of the "big 4", say around the size of the upcoming battle islands. To make the game less of a punch clock, they would only be accessible for small windows, not 24/7. So while there may be hundreds of planets to conquer, there are only a few hot spots at any given time. You can plan on sneak attacks, joint operations, backstabs to your heart's content but you have to fight to take it and win. It's likely you'll need to form coalitions since anyone can show up looking to snag your prize.
I would just copy PS2's progression, fitting, cosmetics, and monitization scheme wholesale; they are solid for a F2P fps. It would honestly take an essay to fully flesh out the translation, but I know it would be a better format for portraying the struggle of all out warfare, logistics, and tactics that meaningful gameplay can emerge from. Of course it's a pipe dream, but CCP should think long and hard about it. Instant simultaneous access to PS4 and PC, continual updates to the client provided by SOE, freedom to update their balance quickly and painlessly, and still maintain the freedom of creating a living universe and a decidedly "DUST 514" gameplay. Better yet, cross-pollination with current PS2 players and the EVE playerbase could bring that fresh market they were hoping for all along. SOE wins, CCP wins, the players wins. I wish it would be seriously considered.