[dmm]

OK, maybe these aren't appropriate for a patch, but I can ask.
1) Scenario Editor
2) Add genetic engineering area (to biology tech tree?), which would allow you to colonize other atmospheres. Obviously, each race would start with one of these techs for free. Would help the AI a lot, since it is too stupid to shift captured pop around.
3) I like the idea of restricting colony modules to a specific planet size, but I only like it if you could research the other planet sizes. So a Gas race might start off with only Huge and Large techs, but could research the other sizes.
4) Allow players to use racial points to buy techs at setup. At least some techs. For example, you could have a space-rats race that is stupid and unlovable but that breeds like ... well, like rats, and that can colonize both rock and ice or both O2 and CH4 atmospheres. Another example: a cowardly psychic race, with lousy offense and defense, but it starts with mind-control tech (but no prelims to it).
5) Anything that will help no-planet races/monsters come into being.
6) Allow the option, in Single Player or HotSeat, of manually entering combat results. The player(s) could derive the combat results in any fashion of his/their choosing: dice, RTS, arm-wrestling, StarFleet Battles, etc.

In a nutshell: Add variety wherever possible!