I just had an idea for a new concept in the game: security fences/barriers/shields/walls. I'm really not sure what to call them, and none of these terms seems quite right. Anyway, I'm envisioning being able to build shield projectors (much like those that protect planets) that project a barrier on a path that you specify. So, with these, you can create barriers to delay, not prevent, an enemy fleet from entering the heart of a system you control. I see them being fairly weak, but enough to hold up a light raiding fleet while you bring in the cavalry. I don't intend them to function as "walls" a la Empire earth (those took FOREVER to destroy), but more like traffic control. I thought of this after the umpteenth time that pirates had rushed right past my gauss platforms into the soft underbelly of my system
In order to create these, you actually build a shield projector, which then creates a barrier along a path you specify. I'm not quite sure how you'd be able to do this (maybe a click and drag function), but this would make planet security (notice I did not say defense), much easier to manage.