It would mean that a system could not be upgraded in the field. Modules would be spare parts. The appropriate modules would be needed to repair your systems.
Repairs would be expressed in terms of modules, when purchased at a repair shop.
To upgrade a system, the same number of modules used to build that system would need to be installed. This would bring system build, repair, and upgrades full circle to working with modules in a sensible way.
I would also change the manufacturing processes for modules to take a lot less materials, perhaps about 100 of the key components.
Spacecraft manufacturing processes would no longer require the module patents, just the modules. Then you could build ships using modules acquired elsewhere, without having to know how they were made.
Ships might then be built in 1/100th of the time.
Repairs would be expressed in terms of modules, when purchased at a repair shop.
To upgrade a system, the same number of modules used to build that system would need to be installed. This would bring system build, repair, and upgrades full circle to working with modules in a sensible way.
I would also change the manufacturing processes for modules to take a lot less materials, perhaps about 100 of the key components.
Spacecraft manufacturing processes would no longer require the module patents, just the modules. Then you could build ships using modules acquired elsewhere, without having to know how they were made.
Ships might then be built in 1/100th of the time.