and when should the data be copied from *.rul into *sav ?
1. on new game?
2. on every load?
3. on hotkey?
4. something else?
TL;DR:
1. would be more convenient.
3. in case first option doesnt apply into the "new/quick battle" screen.
Long Answer:
If I'm completely honest, my preferred option would be the one that doesn't create an insurmountable hassle to implement. However, I'll leave that decision in your hands, as it's clear you're more knowledgeable about this topic than I am.
1. I think this option might be the most convenient for new players who try mods and find themselves overwhelmed by multiple new weapon additions. It could help mitigate the 'shock' of the sheer number of new options. For veteran players, or in my specific case, most of the time spent in the loadout screen is during the initial setup when creating templates. After that, I just replace weapons as new tiers are unlocked. The critical point, in my opinion, is at the very beginning.
2. I might be completely wrong, but wouldn't this create extra load time, especially in some mega-mods with hundreds of additions? It feels like a less convenient version of option 1, to be honest.
3. This could be an excellent tradeoff, with the added perk that players who create their own exotic loadouts based on their preferred playstyles won't have their lists cluttered with more 'standard and conservative' suggestions. Also, this is the only scenario I can imagine affecting the quick battle generator, right?"