1. Go SSD.
2. Open source, please? I'll be happy to look at whatever plans you map out and give critique/suggestions (might as well put that bachelor's in ISD to use, right?), but I won't make the mistake of offering my programming "skills" (no time, anyway).

I've actually been considering something similar, though admittedly, I figured it would take me years to getting around to modding the HUD, and not remotely as extensively.

Good luck!