One very simple and very significant change which I think would transform PvP (and perhaps npc combat too) is to really make death effect mean something.....how many battles are tainted as they degenerate into fastest recon contests (ie they go on till one side basically gets bored), how many times has your target suicided because it'll get him back into battle quicker, how many people actually make any real effort to avoid death cus it is so inconsequential? I know its a pain when missioning but the emphasis should be to stay alive in all aspects of the matrix!
Make DE much more severe, reduce all combat rolls to the point where you would be crazy to go back into battle with any LO till its cleared!