somewhat pretentious title, sorry about that some suggestions anyways
1) stop the host changing speed setting in existing rooms
This is just wrong! if you want to race at a higher speed quit the room and join another, only thing this does is freak out/annoy everyone else there.
2) the grinding to a halt penalty is a bit too harsh for online races
I guess this one is subjective, but it seems to me it just creates a very polar situation where whoever manages to get ahead early on will win. its all but impossible to catch up after you have been hit a couple of times. Today i was hit by a missile, i went flying into the wall over a mine. literally took me 3 or 4 seconds to even start moving. its anti competitive i tell ya
3) add text chat to lobby
lots of times i want to say awesome race, or i'll start when we get another person, or whatever. some means of communication would be nice.
4) add friends direct from lobby/game rooms
sure there were more, but my eyes have stopped bleeding now so i better get back to playing
[EDIT] 5) if i fall off the edge i spend a lot of time falling off a second/third time as the game restarts you waaaay too fast. back in the WO3 days the little droid would drop you off nicely giving you time to find your bearings. you might say meh rushin get some skills but then you have to apply that to another 80% of the people playing. It's frustrating, not in a 'ooohhh this is hard i'll practice more' way, but 'bollocks not again'