In theory this is what the ship maintenance does. Most games resources are not much of a problem. Most players lower their maintenace costs.
This can even be done without a mod just have all players not lower their maintenance or even have to increase it. Suddenly you have to make hard choices on what kind of navy you are going to build and you will never have enough resources (good luck on trying to build lots of expensive ships). People would suddenly have navies mirroring our own real life navies. Picket ships, escorts, patrol cruisers a handful of capital ships. It is a good Idea for a different type of game.
[This message has been edited by Rich04 (edited 05 September 2001).]