We have several ideas related to the zoom level, one is a special drone part that can be activated and the camera will automatically focus this part. Using multiple strategically placed parts the camera will adjust the zoom level and show all of them on screen. This would also allow to switch the camera between multiple sub-drones that would be too far away to control otherwise. Or even auto focus if a sensor detects an enemy, and so on
I agree on the distance sensor and also on the too narrow spawn place under the nimbatus. I'll make the behaviour dynamic so the Nimbatus hovers higher above the ground when using a large drone, so it will always fit between the ship and the planet.
The structural rigidity is another discussion. There are also multiple ways to solve this. I think we will start experimenting with this during the alpha phase