Something that I would love to see..
 

Check out metalknights.com. That game is turn-based like SE4 and has a rather nice matchup/MP game system. Much easier than playing PBEM, as if one player stops playing their empire simply doesn't do anything anymore, and more feasable play-wise than TCP/IP- completing a large game like that could be a nightmare..

Dunno if this would be feasable for SE4, but it would be *very* nice :-)

Phoenix-D