HT,
Great looking lighting and lightning.
I think your concession to the HUD is good and for a very rational reason.
And I think, and have always thought since it was introduced that the way that icons disappear behind canopy struts and then return should be rethought for the same reason. Its exaggerating a limitation of the computer screen vs reality much more then it is reflecting reality. In a deflection shot the pilots eyes are focused so far beyond the canopy frame that he would barely see it.
If a way could be thought of to impose the frame work as a liability in spotting but not in shooting, that would be ideal IMHO.
Looking forward to seeing this new version.