Just saw a stream on the game, if everyone removes their headsets, the game becomes proximity. However if you're dead you can't hear anyone else. You can't even talk to other dead players. I feel like this should be the first priority to improve. Dead players should be able to talk to each other and...

YES!! This could improve the voice chat completely! If you go too far away you could cut in and out because of a bad signal. You could turn off your radio to have private conversations but other people may be listening in on you... Maybe an antenna or something outside the ship that could be sabotag...