The current combat mechanics allow it to be a world based game instead of a region based game. If we want a twitch based combat sim we would need a 20ms ping to each other instead of the 2,000+ms ping that some have to each other. So I don't expect a game to have gunner sights that you walk onto target.
For me the most interesting part of pvp is ship design. The ability to make your ship more offensive or more defensive. And that's part of du combat.
Can they do better? I think they can do two thing. 1, allow gunners to select specific systems to target, ie engines, or weapons or command.... and 2 a flare/decoy system. Where the defending pilot launches a decoy. And the attacking gunner must decide if his target is the real or decoy target and if he should stay on target or swap.