Badger

We welcome you Badger to the forums. Feel free to do all sorts of browsing and suggestion around here. Also, might I add that a good way to get started is to read the dev blog.
https://devblog.dualthegame.com/
Welcome again.

Well, you kind of late. Really late. Boarding has been a topic widely discussed and you can search around the forum for it easily.

I think tech trees when thought of as "research" and developing new technologies introduced to the game is something I think is essential.
 
It takes years to develop high tech industry and output devices such as the Atomic bomb, and future propulsion systems such as FTL, and Jump.  to have a craft system that allows the research of new technology definitely would invigorate builders such as myself to the science and research of new technologies thru trial and error, and discovery of new elements; not to mention the discovery of alien technology recovered.
 
Also, having a character that has developed a wide band of technology know how could become very important to corporations, and governments that may develop in this game.  I think finding alien components and learning to reverse engineer them and then construct a working model is a side game I am willing to play.

The dev interview that TheXPGamers did the dev talked about having to send probes, that could take months to get to there location, in order to travel to a location. So It seems like probes will be a thing.