How I think tech tree could work

I see a lot of promise in this game and can't wait for career mode to be implemented. However there's one thing that worries me about career mode and that thing is having similar type of science progression as KSP. Right now in KSP you buy tech tree nodes using science points acquired from contracts and experiments, contracts and experiments that usually have nothing to do with the type of technology you're researching. What I suggest to do instead is a system where you move incrementally forward in different areas based what you're actually doing e.g. you get progress towards propulsion by flying new engines or by inspecting spent ones, you develop better ISRU techniques by studying planetary surfaces and sending impactors, you get better life support by having astroanuts do prolonged missions and so on, you get the idea. I think that it would make the game both more realiistic and less grindy since the science activities would be much more diverse and less mundane.