I'm rather sure the armored Windows got more opaque, either in last patch or from a setting/driver thing I changed. And yes, I did the multi-tool thing; It gets from tinted to less tinted, but never gets clear. (also those reflexions) And for spotlight cones, it looks like there is fog, but when I turn the light off it's clear. From external view (I strongly hate that because my ship looks strange from behind and it feels unnatural for me) everything is fine. If it is a Game and not setting thing it is an unfair advantage for 3rd person view...
This question comes up so often, that you have to assume the answer is "by design" . I'm waiting for this to get fixed too, yes. It will someday, so I can wait.
Yeah, i have noticed it getts really harder to see in space from first person view with custom set cockpits with armored windows, as opposed to armored cockpits or normal cockpits. Its annoying me.
I've gotten used to it, but it's still not good. The window tinting is even worse combined with the foggy and overly bright spotlights. Your best bet is to use waypoints for navigation, external regular lights set to spotlight mode and slow speeds for ground travel at night, night vision goggles for high speed flight, and detector pulses for fighting.