More specifically, what changes would you bring to the table to make his gameplay both healthier and more competitive yet as similar to his current identity as possible? I know 95 % of readers will think (or post) "Remove him", but actual suggestions would be nice u.u
Seeing his face in the last patch 
was nice. That made me hope that in the near future we might get something more than a bugfix below his name. 
Lumus Avatar4 votesI would change...
Nothing. He's in a good spot with clear strengths and weaknesses. Healthy team supportive play from any lane with moderate snowball potential.
The only thing I want to FIX about him is the expenditure of Q - Parrrley - when the target dies while the missile is traveling. That is the one truly obnoxious thing when playing as him. You target a low hp minion hoping for extra gold and a refund of half the mana cost on kill, and it up and dies right as your shot reaches it and YOU GET NOTHING.
"Thanks for the mana and CD, though," says the Aether.
Darth Valer1 votesB-B-but... Everyone says he's shit, unviable, the weakest toplaner, the overnerfed and forgotten season 1 hypercarry... :C I enjoy playing him and agree with you (both on his "good spot" and the Q issue), but I thought the general consensus considered him underwhelming.
If I had to name some unbearable weaknesses of his, I'd say he's too easily kiteable, item-reliant, counterable (
) and with a weak and boring E, the former and the latter being the most heinous ones.
Lumus Avatar1 votesIt's easier for me to answer if you reply to my comment so I know you said something.
First off, general consensus isn't always right. You gotta play him your own way and make your own decisions. You've already made a mistake if you play him and think he's fine but then come and ask this question just because some other people say he's bad.
Secondly, He's NOT that easy to kite. Every one of his attacks, including his ranged Q, applies a slow and a damage over time. He has one of the highest base move speeds of any champion in the game. He has a movement speed boosting ability. If the enemy does start to get away, he can drop his Ult ANYWHERE and slow them or control their retreat. Oh, and before I forget, he has an ability that removes ALL DISABLES (including stuns and Suppresses!) instantly, and heals him.
Thirdly, He can build basically anything he wants because he has very strong gold gain from his Q, which gives an extra amount of gold when he kills by shooting the target. If your first item is Avarice blade, you will NEVER hurt for money. My second item is Zeal, my third item is Berserker Greaves (or Mercury Treads, depending on the situation).
Basically, I have all the gold I could need, and I am extremely fast, with a speed boost, and many slows. As long as I don't die (cuz my build leaves me kinda squishy) people aren't getting away.
But do NOT take my word for it. Or anyone's, for that matter. Go play him. Pay him a lot. Learn his strengths and Weaknesses and come back and tell me if you think he REALLY needs to change.
Maybe he does. I, personally, am not of that opinion.
EDIT:
As for counterable, Invest some runes in Armor Penetration. Armor does hurt him early, unless you penetrate it. Later on, his damage is so high that armor struggles against him and his consistent output due to good chase.
The5lacker1 votesBefore I can answer that, I need to know something: What is Gangplank's identity? From a mechanical and lore standpoint, who is he, and what does he want to be doing?
Because right now the only thing I can think of is "That guy with the global ult and the ranged attack that applies on-hits like a melee, and is K'." Which describes different things he happens to do, but nothing in relation to one another, because he doesn't really have an identity other than "Yarr, he's a pirate...I guess."
Darth Valer1 votesI mindlessly (u_u) accept general consensus 'cause last season I was Gold 5 (I mainly did ranked for Morgana's skin) and I can't count on my average opponent to be showing me the maximum his champ has to offer against GP. As a matter of fact, I've become extremely proficient at him and almost always win my lane. I use a mix of runes and masteries which gives me 10 % flat CDR, 9 ArPen, 9 AD, 9 Armor, 9 Mres at lv. 18 and other stuff. I upgrade Q and W according to how I'm faring in lane, level by level (W if I need sustain, Q if I'm ahead). My usual build order is 
-> 
-> 
-> 
-> 
OR 
-> 
-> 
AND 
-> 
. No boots.
As for the kiting, Q slow is very small, E has a cast time (as does W), and R, although useful, is often not available (I use it on the core of the fight and face the adc's on the rear of the team, away from my ult area). The Trinity on-hit speed is the most useful anti-kite tool available to him, imho xD Anyhow, late-game adc's melt you if you don't have a gap closer T_T