1: Some preset maps come with pre-built labs, but that is the current extent of such measures.  If you use 'faster' for the income and research times it will speed things along nicely.

2: I doubt that will happen.  Smaller maps are limited by the sheer limitation of logistics slots.  You have to make sacrifices somewhere, usually based on faction and current military situation.

3: See note about using 'faster' settings. 

4: Some sort of artifact sharing 'pact' might be a nice addition to Rebellion.

5: The algorithms might get very complicated depending on implementation.  Don't forget though that you can have some leeway by setting 'loose' cohesion and alt-clicking to issue orders to specific ship types in terms of placement and targeting. 

6: I had a thought a while back that it would be nice if militia were more like micro-factions that could build tactical structures and additional fleet at their planetary holdings.  It would add an extra 4X feel to the game.

7: I doubt that would happen, though I suppose pirate upgrade schema could be adapted.

8: Players would probably disable something truly random like that. 

9: Pirates already purchase upgrades, only without the need for labs.  Colonizing is the opposite of pillaging. 

10: People have exploited the z-axis in the past.  The game is relatively flat for the sake of gameplay balance.

11: Planets actually are differentiated on the z-axis from one another.  But they do naturally fall in line as a sort of disk.  This works the same on the galactic level as well.  So it makes sense for each solar system to be relatively flat in terms of planet layout.

12: See note for 10 about gameplay balance.  Sins can be played like a real time board game of sorts.

for 1, 2, 3: not talking about faster rates, talking about initial start credits, metal, crystal.  Great to have 5 labs at your planet so you can immediately research wormhole travel... still gotta take the initial time to do it.  Hate to say it, sometimes I want to stick the CD in the microwave for 6 seconds simply because I have about an hour to play and spend time getting all research to tier0, then 1, more for 2... F* THAT, I want Tier 2 stuff totally done.  And if I had 5-6 hours to just go wild playing my old Freelancer map (tons of planets and militias) only to get nuked to hell and back because AI built 20 -yes 20!!! Kostura Cannons and volleyed the living hell out of my worlds.  Stupid frakking game... So I'm asking for real damn options here instead of starting yet another map and having to take 20 minutes out micromanaging empire and research before being able to play.

so basically, being able to set start tech level and max tech level can get players right into fighting, eliminate super cannons from the game or prevent uberlag fleets.  Having boosted credits, metal, crystal right off the bat gives all players -combined with start tech options, the resources to get building and have at.  QuickStart was a baby-step in the right direction -get stuff going already, I wanna kill an empire; take it the next couple of miles is all I ask.

*Even pirates get ambitious and with the monotony of SOASE -lacking any campaign or even half-arsed "scenarios" through multiple maps strung together or even labeled, "TEC 1, 2, 3, 4, etc..." as a last resort... spice this bland meal up.  I play this still because of the mods because the same old **** every map is just nuts.

To Z-Axis comments, yes horrible abuses, so better range limits to prevent them.  Bleh on flat, this isn't Planet's Edge and if you've noticed, SOASE has about as much regard for 'natural' solar system formation as EVE Online has for Newtonian Physics -I mean to say, Zip.  So greater player control of structure Z-axis placement, movement and even for mappers would be great.  If other RTS that happen on land were made in the mold of SOASE, every battle would be on a flat plane with the occassional hill -pretty damn boring.

1 strory drifen campaine

2 coop ply campaine (notskirmes)

3 rewardt system

to bad peepol alway comendt on first post. and not willing to say wat the post was createt in first place

But by old RTS standards that IS a 'deathmatch', when you start with a buttload of resources and specific techs either primed or completed. 

Would you also like fries with that sir?

Actually a deathmatch mode would be interesting and funny =P

Unfair on some points but interesting none the less. Maybe if they balanced specifically the races only to be used in that mode it would be possible *.*