Random detail: in an earlier Wing Commander, many subsystems, when they lost hitpoints, would start to randomly reject user input. Repeatedly mashing e.g. the afterburner button until you got the "good" audio signal was one of the most immersive features in the whole game. Your damaged ship could still fight effectively, but it would take increased attention and a bit of luck. Later iterations would just make the subsystem x% less effective, punishing you for taking damage without adding anything to the experience.