[Hotfoot]

How about some new merchant techs? Either revamping "natural merchants" or adding a new tech tree for merchant-style races. Include new facilities for privateers, or merchant defense convoys. For example, privateer facilities might generate a small number of intelligence points (say, half that of a same-level intel facility), lower happiness in a system by a small amount, and generate small amounts of resources. Merchant defense facilities could maybe increase trade with your allies, or just increase revenue and happiness in a sector by a certain amount. Maybe even generate small amounts of intel on their own for counter-intel purposes (or retaliation against privateers).

How about a series of "tech master" traits? They get access to better mounts or tech for standard tech items, to increase effectiveness by a slight, but noticeable amount. Maybe make "Economic", "Weapons", and "Defensive" masters, for better efficiency at resource generation, weapons/weapon mounts, and armor/shields/ECM, etc.