I certainly agree. Some work on the economics of the game would make a whale of a difference. Sorry, just could not let that go.
I'd start with Capt's prestige points. Waay to easy too earn PP's, making adding high level crews much, much too early in the game. Increasing the cost of ship purchases and reducing the financial reward of blubbler/oil sales would do it as well. Very easy remedies if they really want to fix it. Of course, it's probably just two guys in a basement so it may be beyond the devs to do much.