To assist in loadouts that are really cutting it close volume wise, could you insert this at the beginning of the .dat file, just above the first weapon modules.
[race] NULL 0 0 0 0 none none beam*0*0*0*0002*6 [nr]4504
It fills in a unused hardpoint but is fills no volume, does no damage, absorbs no damage, and costs nothing at all.
The closest thing is the LaserI with a volume of 3, but it's annoying to scroll down to it every time
if this could be implemented into the main servers .dat it could be handy. be sure its placed near the top of the modules list though.
I'd probably rather make a 'none' slot rather then a hack though, rather 'empty' would be handy for less slots and bigger volume to use for other weapons. Is a good idea though