Another thing: mining actually encourages trading. I mean player-to-player trading. That way, even a lowly lolwut can get into RP when he's mining and some trader passes by to buy some ore. It's more fun to mine than to trade because mining = mining + trading (hauling). Mining makes barge useful. Mining brings fights over mining spots into existance, which is fun. Shame the last sair we've seen in o11 to rob hessians was around like year ago.
Still, yeah, why not, buff trading, at least i'll get more money on return runs from ore selling place. Or wait a second, i'll be able to pirate traders for more credits if i don't want their cargo for some reason! Neat.