Don't talk about the "real world of software" when your only experience has been dealing with apps that are used on a few thousand machines with only a few different setups. This isn't some webapp that you use to look up client info from a database. This is software that makes countless calculations per second, client and server side, that has to work on a few hundred thousand machines, potentially most of them being fairly unique setups. Bug squashing in this situation is more akin to triage.

I get the feeling that SirCopperfield made a new account.

There isn't enough "open" world to allow unlimited player housing. Instanced neighborhoods would be fine though.

They don't want to limit smack talk between a few players engaged in a pvp battle. What they do want to limit is the faction versus faction cesspool that general chat would become. As someone pointed out, they tried letting both factions see each others' general chat and it didn't work out.

Then you're bugged. It has nothing to do with how the torpedoes should work. You can argue that torpedoes should be on a separate keybind, but that wouldn't change the fact that torpedoes are bugged for you and if they weren't they'd be working perfectly fine in their current setup.

Now you're putting words in my mouth. This has nothing to do with skill. It doesn't take skill. But that doesn't mean it needs to be made easier. That's why I don't think much of your suggestions or your opinion. Something that is already easy enough should not be made easier for the sake of your petty wants.

So you're not having a problem, but you want it made easier anyways? I disagree. There needs to be a drawback for something that can one shot the heavy ray shielded targets in one shot. The time to target and restriction on using missiles against those targets is the necessary drawback. Let's face it, there are all of 2 missions per faction where you can fire all 4 proton torpedoes, all of 2 missions where you're going to run into this so called problem. Friggin' deal with it.

Please, post a screenshot with a greyed out torpedo cone, a torpedo counter that shows 0, and a torpedo targeting reticule over a hardened target. I don't mean to be harsh, but when you're told how the torpedo counter works and you comeback with a nuh uh, you look a little foolish.

It doesn't matter which side you're on. The only difference that faction makes is the placement of hardened targets on the large cruisers. In fact the OP is a Republic player and he can manage just fine. Your torpedo indicator is not showing up as greyed out after three shots. The problem isn't the torpedoes, it's you.

So you want something made easier so you can fulfill your own extraneous goals? I'm sure you won't understand why I think that sounds completely silly.

You aren't out of torpedoes, you're misinterpreting your missile/torpedo counter. The Proton Torpedo Tube gives you 4 torpedoes, not 3. The counter only shows 3 though. But it's just like the missile display: http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii191/jpaander/games/Screenshot_2012-05-22_09_25_11_750598.jpg You have the 3 unloaded torpedoes, but you also have the one loaded. So long as the torpedo indicator is purple, that means you have one torpedo in the tube. http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii191/jpaander/games/Screenshot_2012-05-22_09_22_39_178872.jpg After firing two torpedoes and before the third one is loaded, you can see we have grey torpedo indicator. We just have the two torpedoes in the magazine. http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii191/jpaander/games/Screenshot_2012-05-22_09_35_14_922098.jpg The torpedo indicator is still purple. Despite the counter saying 0, I still have one left. http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii191/jpaander/games/Screenshot_2012-05-22_09_36_35_061681.jpg The grey torpedo indicator means we are now completely out of torpedoes.

What, you think I missed something? Like this: I don't know what the problem is that you're trying to point out? Torpedoes don't screw up missile launches against unhardened targets. You can't fire missiles at a shielded target when a torpedo is loaded. So what? Use your damn torpedoes. You don't get a bonus for having leftover torpedoes at the end of the mission. Using up all of your torpedoes on one mission isn't going to leave you short on the next mission. Again, if you're having a hard time completing Clouds of Vondoru because you have torpedoes equipped, then the problem lies with you. Personally, I don't think the space missions should be made any easier at all. They're already easy and boring enough.

The command deck is optional and the shield generators are still vulnerable to regular missiles. If you're having problems finishing Clouds of Vondoru, then the issue lies with you. Tapping RMB does not launch missiles against hardened targets when you have a torpedo loaded. You have enough time to launch upwards of 5 missiles after launching a torpedo and before a new one is loaded. In any case, so what? Use your torpedoes.

You used your buff while grouped with a flagged player. Don't want to get flagged, don't group with flagged players.

You don't have to pass through any pvp zone. It sounds like you people are just ignorant of your options for getting around the map. You don't always have to follow that little green arrow wherever it leads.