^I was there. Moar gauss sniping; you needed it. 
Agreed on the CT overkill bit; but (perhaps related?) - why does a tanked CT automatically mean a dead pilot? If the cockpit hasn't been destroyed, the 'Mech should just be disabled, like with a legging....it'd be even cooler to survive CT destruction, but have to eject before the final explosion. Reactor leaks could damage you very quickly to death before a final explosion, to control the increase of ejecting BAs this'll bring.
I like this idea. If the CT is cored, but engine hasn't taken any hits (rare), let the pilot choose to eject with 1/3 health or so with nothing but the standard SBL. If the engine has taken hits, let there be a 90% chance that the pilot dies in the standard explosion (not critical).
Better yet, let him enable a 5 second core meltdown timer as he ejects with a 25% chance of going critical... heh
