With the Reaving Supplemental we also learn that the Stone Lions are allowed to keep using and experimenting with the Nova CEWS but can only use it when fighting dezgra.
Nova CEWS use in the Homeworlds is actually more restrictive than that. The Lions asked the Grand Council to allow Nova CEWS use only in the Lions' second-line/garrison vehicles. And the Lions' Nova CEWS units are salvaged, not in production. (WoR Supp: 16, 18)
what might the next generation of Omnimechs look like putting to use tech & tactics learned in the Wars of Reaving?
The thing about some key Society equipment is that it can be used optionally and that it doesn't take up a lot of resources whether it's in use or not.
Nova CEWS can be turned on or off. And when it's on, you don't have to use the dishonorable targeting network while still benefitting from the ECM and active probe capabilities. Even if completely turned off, the Nova CEWS only takes up a couple tons and a crit slot.
iATM launchers don't have to be loaded with the Society's IIW or IMP missiles. But their HE, standard, and ER missiles will still benefit from the iATM's Streak capabilities, at no cost in tonnage, crits, or heat compared to regular ATM launchers.
Chamelon LPS can be turned on or off and takes up only a half-dozen crit slots when turned off.
If I was a Bastion trying to protect the Homeworlds against all comers or an Aggressor seeking to wipe out the rest of humanity, I would design a few omnimechs incorporating all three of these technologies (probably with Ferro-Lam thrown in for good measure).
For honorable, intra-Clan or intra-Homeworld trials, these technologies would not be used, and they don't pose much of a burden to the omnimech when they're not being used to their fullest.
But against larger numbers of "tainted" Spheroid invaders or defenders, these technologies could be used to maximum effect to create large force multipliers.
Quantity has a quality all its own in warfare, and I would expect realistic Bastions or Aggressors to augment these omnis with powerful ultraheavy protomechs, especially if Nova CEWS and iATMs can get ported over to the protomech chassis.
The whole Scientist caste was very under-developed pre-WOR. They did not make great breakthrough besides the Golden Century. Genetics and improving of genetics was their main task.
This is an area where the Homeworld Clans could innovate and diversify, creating better and new phenotypes. It would be nice to have some that affect gameboard play beyond average G/P skills.
The new scientist breed is going to prove their value anew and maybe want to erase the stain on their caste. The warrior caste will distrust them, but if they order demanding tasks for the scientists to solve and recognizing their successful work publicly, this might be the beginning of a new Golden Age for the Homeclans.
They need time (some decades), but there would be no enforced disarmament as in the Inner Sphere, so they might have a somewhat higher technology rate than the Inner Sphere in 3150.
You could really write it either way.
The Homeworld Clans' infrastructure and knowledge base could be so devastated and their culture so warped and stunted by the obsession with "taint" that they ebb away into Deep Periphery non-relevance.
Or, more unified in purpose with fewer political entities and not hamstrung by Scientist Caste and Dark Caste conspiracies that are keeping all the innovative goodies and best worlds for themselves, the Homeworld Clans grow rapidly and surpass the original 20 in size, technological advancement, and force.
Ideally, I'd like to see the Homeworlds evolve into something other than Clans v2.0. (I kind of wish the Society had succeeded.) The Homeworlds need fundamental change to stay interesting, and Bastions/Aggressors/omnimechs/elementals/few protos are not that different from Wardens/Crusaders/omnimechs/elementals.
My 2 Kerenskies... YMMV.