For one of the few times that I have to agree with Mr. Kyd... it's all about the gameplay experience, the way you guys want to play a game, makes it sound more like a teaser quickies like Tetris or Pong.
Here we go again, please explain why... is it too much to ask... I just go to any body's face and say: Get out of my face, you're ugly. Give some constructive criticism at least.
Technically speaking, DiditzZz, you're right, because they are named after the Beta Testers.
And Shewang, its your own fault to get a game over, there are many hints stating about losing lives = reset. Besides, it happens to most of the "old school games" with lives, Super Mario, Megaman, Ninja Gaiden, all those has a life system that would reset your progress.
Ships are not rated as good/better based on the number of kills they require, it still takes time to master them. They are in a sense of balance and in the end, experience will still be a factor.
Pepster: There is something wrong with one of your comments, you said you were on auto-pilot then ran into a black hole, TWICE. The thing is, any rational experience would lead you to to turn off your auto-pilot when reviving, and based on what you said, you haven't revived during your 1st death, which makes dying twice contradictory.
Quite hard in the beginning, especially with the early air units. Though gets easy in the end, but never did reach that far, as I was basing it on other's comments
Non-reloading Large weapons make it spicy as well... imagine that if you die in multiplayer, you would have another plasma relay or a UVB with you... and can use it without any problem.
I'll give a much more concrete analogy on your idea, that would be similar to how the Real life 1 life system applies to this game's 10 life system.
Supposed you get into an accident, and lose an arm... do you expect it to grow back? Maybe surgically repair it via enhancements, but not grow it back, the way you say about keeping the kills/ships unlock is roughly identical to the statement I just said.
That's what I believe as well, they expect that 1 life is still 2 chances of play.
But in my opinion, is to not to take a chance and do not go to 1 life.
congregate5, then it loses the purpose of the lives system of actually "DYING", has people read one of the last comments I posted about the lives system? Since kills are at some point important, why would that make any less different if it got reset? It's actually what should be removed before money and weapons.
 "Warlords: Call to Arms")
 "Starfighter: Disputed Galaxy")
 "Duels Defense")