I'm all for having both books combined.
I do have a few questions... is variable damage getting looked at? I actually prefer rolling 2d6 for each point of damage rather than rolling a d6 per point AFTER rolling for a hit. Maybe even apply this to physical attacks as well (except charge and DFA). It is slower, but it is more in line with how BattleTech actually works.
Also, is there going to be an anti-infantry ability? This way units with Machine Guns (like the Phoenix Hawk) don't feel as vanilla. Using it as an example, it could have MGx and it gives a +x damage bonus against infantry?
And... since 0* was introduced, will we see other abilities use it? Like an Assassin with SRM 0*/0* or a Vulcan with AC0*/0*/0*? Kind of like the last example, it would make some designs less vanilla, and since you can only do one ability I don't think it would break anything except morale for editing the MUL.