I for one hope the 20% difference is exactly stuff like this. Rather 20% more mines rather that mines doing 20% more damage
A bit bad example, but I really am against direct combat upgrades regarding damage output/intake.
20% of more damage given/faster damage and less damage taken is huge and kills a game and new players and reviewers will hate em. APB showed that
That's why I hope they give the advantage horizontally, not vertically, much like in original PS.