I think out of pod in space combat would be very interesting.
How the combat would work is rather simple. Models from Dust 514 would be used to encapulsate the Capsuleer instead of the Pod. The suit would perform much like the Pod does but would be much larger, maybe 5x the size of Dust 514 suit.
Wearing a suit would allow the Capsuleer to travel around the solar system much like a ship does and to different solar systems using a new type of gate designed just for the suit and the suit only.
New missions surrounding the suit allow vets and rookies to do something entirely new and strange, thus creating another avenue in the environment.
Each Mech Suit would have high,mid and low slots plus rig slots to equip mods too.
Combat between suits would be intense none the less as Capsuleers chase each through an asteroid belt or around a station.
Suited Capsuleer could also engage and be engage by smaller ships such as frigs and destroyers or even a new class of ships designed especially for chasing Suited Capsuleer.
Suited Capsuleer could even swarm smaller ships, such as Barges and Haulers and attack them with lethal and highly precise systems that allow unparalleled accuracy over the best fit T3C.
Capsuleers could mine or salvage in their suits as well that would introduce new ships that would collect the resources via specialized tractor beams.
The benefit of mining and salvaging in a Suit is that better quality minerals and salvage would be harvested.