Mapping for Goldsource-like engines is far more fun because you don't have to deal with the boring crap, like cubemaps, prop modeling, materials, etc.
So dew it man. Maybe the mod won't even end up dead, who knows
but i'd still make a concept-test map if i were you
then, if it's good, develop it into something huge
and just a prsonal observation: the less you talk about something you're doing, the higher the chances are that it wont die