Well, keep in mind that I'm using the pirate mod here... and using the Cheap "weapon" mount, which makes all non-weapon components have 1/5th the damage, and I believe 1/2 the cost (not sure on that, but SJ is taking it out, so it doesn't matter much anymore
). Basically, my secret is to use bases. Satellites will only have one out of the group mine the planet (at least I'm pretty sure it's like that), so you don't get as much gain out of it. However, with bases, you get 50% of normal maintanance. With reduced cost, and increased area for production, it can be worthwhile. What I looked for were planets with moons. I checked to see which resource type had the highest total percentage in the sector, and built a base to mine that there. Since there is a "feature" where the value only goes down per ship (which can only be one) instead of per mining component, you will have a base which will produce a slowly decreasing amount of resources for a long time. I believe my "record" production came from the BattleStation, over a planet with moon, total of 270 or so percent minerals. I recieved 25k minerals the turn it was completed, and I believe it cost me 17k to construct and 1300 in maintainance. So it paid for itself in a turn, with slowly decreasing returns.
Remote Mining is *NOT* a viable economic strategy for a normal game. It does, however, make for an interesting handicap game (I almost lost at one point, in my game). It can be useful in games where both colonize only home planet type and colonize only home planet atmosphere are selected, but it would be best to fully develop all colonizable worlds, then focus on supplementing with remote mining. It also makes for a great tool to devalue potential enemy colonies.
As for it being awkward if an enemy came around... all my mining operations occured either with a fighter (read: zero maintainance) escort or with my empire between any hostile forces. Remote mining is risky, slow to return, doesn't return as much as planet-based resources, and the returns you do get decrease over time. The biggest advantage is that no space port or equivalent is required.
SJ, I'll swing by mod forum and pick it up, then run through it when I get home tomorrow. I don't think there should be a problem with 6x solar sails unless it has "engine" attached to it. I'll try to make an AI do it.