Has it been considered varying the diameters of the inner and outer circles as well as the locations of the nodes on the generator as a game mechanic, or even advanced upgrades that allow you to move or adjust those inner nodes. Maybe something that can be done in port. more advanced generators might not just have more power nodes but a smaller inner ring that allows more connections because geometry.
Maybe one faction uses larger inner diameter designs with more nodes and the other has smaller inner circles with less nodes when comparing two "equal" power sources.
Well that's just some throw it out there ideas.
I kept both inner and outer circles to a fixed size to keep consistency, it makes it easier to compare ships like for like. We can vary the amount of available power to systems by changing the amount of reactor nodes, and what their max output is.
Still, you have got me thinking about it, and I'm open to the idea. I will certainly add it to the game as an option, and allow modders to create/modify ships with smaller inner circles. I believe in giving people the flexibility to play the way they want to (as much as I can anyway).
Equipment can be swapped out in port, but I have no plans at this time to allow people to modify the wheel (equipment or node positions). This is a personal choice I admit, but to me those things are fixed into the hull of the ship.
There will however be variants for each ship, with varied equipment slots (different loadouts and positions) and reactors (number of reactors, max power outputs and positions). Perhaps the crew can go back to a station and change the ship variant. I'll have to think about it more.