Well, that took the better part of an hour to read.
Here's the reality. When alot, not all, of new players join Discovery, their first inclination is "I want a Battleship." They ask around, or download FL Companion, or someother file scanning program and find the best most lucrative trade route. Trade it for a week or two and voila Battleship. Most of them dont try to RP it at all aside from the Im a Corsair/Outcast/Dragon in a BS and your a military in a fighter "KABLAM".
Is there a quick fix? Unfortunately no. Is there a complete fix at all. Again, no. Independent players are gonna do what they do. I just want to see restrictions on factions. In TBH, I much prefer to fly my Titan, but when we're going against another faction that has nothing but Destroyers and the like, I have no choice but to bring out my Gunboat. I personally am not very good with the Giant ships, hence I prefer to fly a fighter or bomber. But thats me.
I guess, lets see how this whole BS licence thing plays out, and maybe implement some better regulations on factions themselves. Saying let the factions police themselves is not an answer. Save a few of them, they aint gonna do it. Maybe an admin whose sole purpose is regulating factions might be in order?
EDIT: Hopeless, no-one's talking about paying real money to the server. This aint WOW. And I too have kids and a 50+ work week. But I know for sure Im not the oldest person here. I think Im somewhere in the middle actually. Almost 30:(
<span style="color:#FF0000"><strike>RETIRED</strike></span>
ON MY WAY OUT OF RETIREMENT