While you can toggle abilities with this Super Metroid-like feature, you can only do so once you find the ability.
From the debug menu, any ability can be toggled on or off, regardless if you have collected it. It may have been used for debugging purposes, however, prototypes of Zero Mission have an accessible debug menu on the status screen in a similar fashion to Metroid Fusion. The ability to toggle upgrades on and off, just like in Super Metroid.
