I'll see if I can figure out a way to (ab)use the menu-scripting system to catch the 'buy armory' bit and move the 'buy stuff' interface to something client-side do work more like Tribes. I agree that's a better interface, describe what you want ahead of time, tag the 'equip' button when in range, bam, you're equipped.
It may be rather brute-force at first to handle all the options, but I think I can manage it. I accomplished similair for Urban Terror before, this is actually (functionally) simpler than UT's equipment selection system.