Alliances, how they should be treated and Ship sharing

[Simsonator]

In light of the current discussions going around about ship usage etc. I would like to maybe get some insight into what an alliance between factions means to you.

To me i see it as a meeting of common goals or enemies. Both sides of the alliance, in my mind, would share their standard equipment (those not known to be directly exclusive, like the Tizzies and coladas of the Corsairs). They would offer a safe place to dock for their allies. And offer them back up in times of trouble. I personally however cannot see that they would share their ship designs with their allies however. These would be regarded as a very close kept secret, allowing the faction to keep whatever advantage they believed they had as their own, in case of any switch of diplomacy.

I tend to think of it as this. The Royal Navy and the US Naval forces work together commonly in exercises and in combat. The Royal Navy don't use Nimitz class Aircraft carriers though, and the US navy do not use any Type 45 frigates that the Royal Navy have 'lying around'. So to me there would be no sense in some factions stating that they are allied with this, that and the other, allowing them to use any of their ships.

If it was like that then we may very well get some factions stating that they made a deal with whats his name, now i get to fly their uber pwn3r ship.

What do you all think? what are your views on how alliances should be formed and worked?