The problem lies with the disturbing faction/indi ratio that's resulted from the influx of new players due to ever increasingly better mods.
If one can simply buy ones self a battleship and go pwn, why bother wasting your time being a faction-noob for months? That's the mentailty.
For those who DO want to get heavily involved in factions, I always reccomend rather than thinking "I want the faction that will do the most for me..." instead considering "what faction can I do the most FOR?"