I wouldn't care about visual effects for engine explosions (or ammo for that matter, like how it was originally), but I wouldn't want it to actually damage surrounding mechs. Then you would have to many players trying to 'kamikaze' every match, especially from the start of play. Plus the other thrill, of your team doing ok at first, only to suddenly lose multiple mechs at once from an engine explosion because they were to close together, costing you the match. All it would take would be one pilot with a red CT getting to close to their team to end a match much to quickly, no one wants to be on the receiving end of that.