The new gorgeous yellow fer-de-lance is absolutely useless without a different control panel. The yellow on the front of the ship obscures any yellow dots on the scanner.
I've considered experimenting with HUDs to find one that fixes that problem, perhaps the Star Trek TNG HUD? But it would be really slick if we put together a HUD pack that gives each type of ship it's own very useful HUD.
Regarding that...
Where individual cockpits ever a topic?
With limited visibility ( compared to now ), depending on shiptype
and may even some form of border for other thanthe forward view.
(as that then is a camerascreen, not a viewport )
That way, it would be a bit more immersive and one would not
feel like flying "just any ship" so much, regarfing the flair and visuals.
(in a cutely insane, electronic, stuttering female voice)
Are you Afraid? What is it you Fear?
The End of your Trivial Existence? Ha!
When the History of my Glory is written,
your Species shall only be a Footnote
to my Magnificence.
I am SHODAN.
Other HUDs are possible ... see here, for example. I think these can be made specific to a particular ship-type. As for obstructed views, that depends on where the viewpoint is set: in some ships, you can find your vision obscured in certain places by parts of the hull.