I think bringing back the repair and rearm system might be a little premature at this point. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be done, but it shouldn't be done yet. It's still open beta and I think it's far more worthwhile at this moment to have people playing with mechs, weapons, and builds--learning, experiencing, and commenting--before turning back on the repair and rearm system.
I too would like a little more RPG-like element in this, but again it's a little premature. It'd be interesting if picking a House really meant something in that you'd have battles that actually result in shifting battle lines (like what's proposed in The Elder Scrolls Online). I'm not sure if that's part of the grand plan, but it certainly doesn't look like it is.
There is also the issue of 'fairness'. Would turning such a system back on necessitate a global reset? What about for those who've spent MCs on mechs, bling, etc.? I'm not sure what the long term plans are, but I can see why the repair/rearm system has been (temporarily?) removed.
In terms of your personal experience ... well when I played the P&P RPG Mechwarrior, Mercs signed contracts. Consider repairs and rearming to be covered under the Recoverable Expenses part of your rider.