First of all, CG should create a philosophy of datacrons. I think it should look like this:
- Temporary tool to lift outsiders power on ~GL level
- Save priceless theory-crafting side of the game
- Make people care about datacrons and spend money on them
Best steps with this perspective I could suggest:
Remove GL and meta squad units from datacrons - dc should be an outsider lifter tool
Remove all bonuses from 1-2, 4-5, 7-8 levels, make them only 3 perk level datacrons - perk focus without % bonuses make them better in theory-crafting
Remove datacrons drop from everywhere, put them in a shop and reveal datacron side-faction-unit from start - give player ability to buy what they needed for dc currency or crystals
Make 3-6 sets available from start and make them available for 6 month in theory-crafting purposes
Make datacrons upgrade cost in this proportions: 9 dc 1st level = 3 dc 2nd level = 1 dc 3rd level