I don't have this game...yet, but I ran across a reference to your reply and wanted to throw something out to see if it might help you down the road...
Competitive Co-Op might be interesting IIF (If and Only If) it is done in the same spirit as say, the TV series "The Deadliest Catch". Instead of player kills, the teams would be searching for the greatest value of mineral hauls and/ore (see what I did there..lol) alien "parts", of which, depending on the "demand", would fluctuate over certain time periods. Mining locations, including planets, would be rumored to have the materials currently in demand, but of course, the higher the value of the possible yield, the more dangerous (as in conditions, difficulty, and alien monster opposition) would be faced. Such a path might necessitate the inclusion of another class whose primary purpose is the ability to "carry the load". This new class doesn't have much damage potential but has more defensive capabilities. The other clas...