Bump the power up  to 10 watts and use a inbuilt lithium battery pack.

Shrink the whole design down using all surface mount components, even if this means losing the kit option.

Make the design a rugger waterproof unit that you can kick around like a football.

Offer a single lever paddle  option

Offer a DCDC converter that can run from 9 volts to 50 volts DC
AC to DC converter that can run from 90 volts to 260 volts.

Use a LCD display

A build LED torch for emergencies, with red as option so it does not destroy your night vision.

Printing in glow in the dark paint.

Support CW keyboard operation.

A Android phone rig control program.

A PSK IMD meter, so you can use the radio as IMD meter for your normal station

Invert the design like the Yaesu FT817 so you can use it backpack or neck mobile looking down on the controls


I think that should be enough, dream on it will never happen now that the KX3 is here.

How do you want tune your antenna?

Are you speaking of the ALC overshoot, or supposed low "talk power," or low output on SSB?  Be specific, don't just throw out one sentence negatives and then go away.  Interestingly, a significant number of those who complain about low peak output of SSB seem to be from Europe, with some from the USA as well.  This makes no sense.  Are all of the negative respondents using average-reading watt meters, and not high-quality peak-reading watt meters such as the Coaxial Dynamics 83000-A, Array Solutions PowerMaster II, Telepost LP-100A, etc.?

Kenwood has been very good at addressing shortcomings in the 590 with firmware upgrades.  I measure a minimum of 100W out with my peak-reading watt meter, and don't use an amp so the ALC overshoot is a moot point for me.  I "have" an amp, but it's on the shelf as I do my best to keep my neighbors happy in this tight residential area.  And, since most of my operating is on CW, I find the 590 a superlative rig.  Do I miss a band scope... yes, but not terribly so, as I no longer have any major interest in DXing or contesting.  Been there, done that many years ago!  I previously had an ICOM IC-7800v2, and I can personally attest the 590 is superior to the 7800 in the on-air receiver dynamics department, and it doesn't create a hernia every time you lift it...    I do somewhat miss the absolute rock-solid stability of the 7800's OCXO over the 590's TCXO, but then again it's still light-years ahead in stability over my older analog rigs with very decent PTO or VFO designs.  

73
Don W9CW