Brain storm HoF improvments, RP elements, ladder etc

[Illuminated One]

How about a completely different idea, somewhat along the lines of John Milton (Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven).
When players are faced with being defeated they get the choice to become a servant (let their conquerer take their stuff), fight until they are destroyed, or to leave the world bound for a hellish plane (destroying the stuff they take and going AI).
Everyone who chooses the last has a chance to take some of his units and research with him. With these units the players can duke it out on a small wasteland (no income whatsoever, no domkill) hell map for the title lord of hell. Players who go to hell to early would be obviously disadvantaged, but could be given some extra time to organize against those that come later with SCs etc.