Honestly I'd just prefer another game type. Normal and Realistic (or maybe Strategic/Simulator)
Normal mode would be exactly as it is now, with the current option to flag creative mode.
The other option would effectively act as a separate difficulty. No integrity field generator, weaker shields, less resources, add in a fuel cost, and have no option for creative mode. Also where the box for creative mode is normally located add the option for "lock alternate control scheme" to force people into the secondary F2 control setup. This would make for MUCH more strategic gameplay. One where you'd really have to consider more than just "can I kill it" and think more along the lines "is it worth killing." Also you'd actually have to put some serious thought into both designing and piloting. Taking good angles, and not giving them an angle on the more vulnerable areas of your ship when shields go down.
While building pretty ships is great and all... I don't think there is going to be a lot of lasting appeal. Games that rely on "pretty graphics and a cool idea" tend to disappear the moment a bigger company uses that same idea with even prettier graphics. You need some form of difficulty for people to give a crap 5-10 years down the line. If you just want to cash in, sell some copies and stop support... that's one thing. If you want to make a game people will remember a decade from now... maybe listen to the life long gamer. :)
As someone who loves the WarThunder realistic/simulator battles, this greatly appeals to me.