This is a simple concept that has profound results and would expand base Minecraft as well as IC. Saving RS coders tons of room, and allowing us more complicated machinations and creations. Its a simple mainstay of computer coding languages and a base component for any complicated coding, it is the building blocks (ha accidental pun) of modern computing.
The Operator.
For those less computer savvy, an Operator is one of three words used in coding conditions (some languages have dozens of possible operators, we're going to settle for these). The most common operators are AND, OR, or XOR (I prefer to pronounce it ZOAR to the hatred of my colleagues). These Operators are simple in nature but in their simplicity allow the modern computers we use today in all their functions and existences.
In Minecraft these operators are constructed in Redstone using a variety of maddening inverters and a large array of blocks in an area, this creates large complex redstone arrays that take up way too much room for a basic operator.
So my suggestion is this.
An Operator Block or Blocks.
(Pretend the Copper Dust is Redstone)
The Operator Block would have two sides that accept Redstone Inputs and a Front that Outputs. Either through a GUI or separate crafting (based on whether we have one or three blocks), the Operator Block would output power if the chosen operator is true.
AND - If both sides of the block receive Redstone Power, it will output RS Power in front.
OR - If either side accepts RS Power, it will output in front.
XOR - If neither side is active, it will output.
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The other suggestion is a Pulser Block, Pulser Blocks would require electricity to work and in their GUI would allow you to tweak their set Pulse period. Every time this pulse period passes in milliseconds it will output RS temporarily. Saving room from those monstrous Pulser circuits some of us create using repeaters and such.
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Both these concepts drastically reduce the size of redstone circuits and make the existence of redstone creations more manageable. In IC this will allow proper setup of control schemes at bases (IE: Is your Mining Node on? Disable power to your Forge to try to prevent consuming all your power) and in general makes the mod more desirable to the general Minecraft community.