
The current problem with the trident in experimental is that there are 4 docks, of which only one will be used by someone in singleplayer - the mode that subnautica 2 is designed around. This leads to seemingly necessary wasted space in order to account for the possibility of multiplayer.
However, subnautica 2 has introduced the mechanic of deconstructing tadpoles, chassis, and storage lockers. Due to this, I present my suggestion: Have one ‘dock’ on the Trident or whatever it will be called.
This works as a normal dock, up until you get out, at which point you will get the option to deconstruct the tadpole. This would save all of the materials in storage and well as remember what it was - the chassis, what was on the hardpoints, as well as the storage of lockers/chassis and customisation of the tadpole when that gets added in the future.
The materials would be accessible if you need to use them instead of a tadpole, and the storage items would be stored separately to avoid confusion.
There would be a maximum capacity of four designs, at which point it would dock and not deconstruct, or perhaps not dock at all.
To ‘undock’ your tadpole, select one from a terminal or GUI and it would quickly reconstruct it, for undocking like usual.
This would be a seamless way to require only one dock, as well as introducing the utility of having multiple designs for different uses in singleplayer.
Not only that but it also ties into the themes of death and reprinting in subnautica 2’s story - even your vehicles are reprinted.
This is a relatively minor detail which would probably be more trouble than it is worth to code, but it would be very cool nonetheless.