[ZeroAdunn]

definately a huge fan of the fear/loyalty/undecided bar. This could completely replace the current happiness system.

Maybe make it fear/loyalty/hatred. If your hatred ever outpaced your fear and loyalty by a certain amount, the planet would revolt. Each rating could give pluses and minuses to various things, production, reporduction, defense, etc.

To incorporate the captains and admirals idea (really I am all for admirals, but not captains, just too much micromanagement) a high loyalty rating could give you a better chance to produce admirals. Or the various Ratings could determine what kind of admirals your empire produces.