"It also makes intel operations even more important in the game."
It seems like intel is already way too powerful in the game as it is. From what I've read, it's possible to take over entire empires very quickly with intel.
I really don't like the way most of these games do intel, where for some reason you can take over ships and planets that there is no way anyone in your empire could even reach them (such as being 15 jumps away behind a huge strand of black holes, etc.) I had that type of problem with BOTF, too, where I was destroying facilities on an enemy planet I've never even heard of, and it's not even on my map.
I don't mean to knock the idea, I think it's very well thought out and quite cool and realistic. I just prefer the exploring/wargaming aspect as opposed to empire management, and don't particularly enjoy the additional micromanagement that it would entail. I play with intel and random events turned off, and I'd play with this turned off, too.
