We seriously need to reinvent D3. There are so many things that we can change. Maybe something that changes the physics when you go outside that makes the ship fly like a fighter and goes faster (idea below). Space even! You could recreate the space assault on the CED Station that was told in the Descent books! Import all of the old D1/D2 bots! Old weapons! A D3X-XL! (just don't let Karx make that before us But of course we cannot take the name)Outside and space flight characteristics idea.Your main thruster power has been inreased to it's full power. Why it is not at full power when indoors is because of a safety precaution. The ship does not want you hammering into a wall [In space or in the atmo, if you crash into something, your vision will be distorted, momentarily stunned, unable to move and you lose shields]. Your sliding will not be as effective because your anti-gravity drive does not have anything stable to push off of, but the closer you get to a large object, the more effective it becomes to help you push away from that object if you want to.
It's interesting you mention that, Blackwolf. A "1.5" patch has been around for quite a while now (and even mods such as Pyromania are built off this "patch"). Fact is, it's unauthorized, as the patch was never actually released.