What I've also seen happen is people trying to connect (in rp) all their characters.
My friend who used to play freelancer, had an Order character who was bretonian in rp, who got married to a corsair woman, who's uncle (or some relative) was a gaian and idk. It made sence but it's confusing too.
Although I do have to say, if someone leads a faction, then they should really focus on that one faction. Similar to that weird (only 2 system owning factions allowed), I think leaders should also be limited so that they work on improving and the over-all welfare of their faction.
Probably rude to those few players so it might be a bad idea, but for the stability of player factions it may be something rather necessary.