Career issue gone from bad to horrible: Contracts.

[desert]

4 minutes ago, 5thHorseman said:

go to the "correct" places with the "right" parts and crew

I think it can be avoided, but in general this plot thing is tough to implement, I agree. I had easter egg contract pack mod in mind, but mixed with other various missions. They could be standard missions, like launch comm-sat somewhere, but with mission description fitted into the rest of the plot.

8 minutes ago, 5thHorseman said:

some way that they're a more attractive launch option

KSC runway is quite short, so other can be significantly longer. But mostly it changes background landscape for fun and gives quick access to other biomes. For example Arctic base for those ground speed records.