Eh, maybe just make it not get bumped by every goddam asteroid.
Ill test in next days and give an informed opinion, havent used a barge since the patch (and my re-re-re-re-turn)
But just the fact that everytime i return i meet less and less people should ring a bell that the direction game is going isnt right. Game is pretty. And interesting from a roleplay pov, the fact that it cant get people online is telling smt...
On other hand, years ago ive been invited for the game crew and refused, im guessing theres more people complaining in this thread that have been invited more recently and also havent accepted, so, its partly your fault as much as mine.