I was about to make my own thread, but I'll just stick this here instead.
The existence and use of the save editor points to a feature that at least some people really want in the game. Having an external tool that hacks game files may not be the best way to implement that feature. Having a fully incorporated in-game non-immersion breaking way to accomplish what that tool allows users to do has a few obvious benefits.
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Essentially, the idea I ended up with was to leave all the TF items as they are (I've seen how the code is); instead, having a single shipboard machine that allows Capn to selectively save already acquired TF parts (or individual data fields), and basically superimpose a transparency over the character sheet. For credit fees, of course.
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I can read AS, but don't really know squat about how difficult coding nested menu buttons is for the game middleware.
Basically, a menu organizing the data fields available in the save editor, in an in-game suitable format.
[Head] [Body] [Legs] [Extremities]
[Head] -> [Eyes] -> [Color] -> [Copy] [Delete]
or [Head] -> [Eyes] -> [Copy] [Delete] to select the entire eye data set
There would have to be a full nullable backing field for all of Capn's body data. Once you get to a particular data value, or body part, you could pay a fee (say 5k) to save the part entire, or (say 1k) to save a sub-part data field. Or you could delete the stored data (1k).
The other option on the machine would be to essentially superimpose the stored data onto your character. IE empty fields left as is, and stored fields replacing current values. Say 10k to flash youself. This is obviously where the compatibility checking needs to be done, however, I don't think it would be anywhere near what would be necessary with other solutions. Also, when part data is stored, compatibility requirements can be generated and stored, greatly easing flash compat check design.
Haven't made it far enough to see Lessau's new scenes yet, but I did remember mention of microsurgeons storing a complete(ly fictional) record of all your TFs, which is where this idea came from. I was thinking Capn could end up hiring him to make this device after some dialogue.
This approach keeps everything in one place, allows users an immersive way to precisely define their character, and avoids any and all "ballance issues" by requiring the TF to already be acquired.
This is a different solution, but I think it's basically what the OP was discussing in the first place.