[Gryphin]

“who would want to play a game of Monopoly and just be the banker for example?”
Good point geoschmo.

I can think of a few options for the TF in the event of an attack. None of them would ensure survival.
No matter what stage of the game, militarily the FT is likely to be at a disadvantage.
It would behoove the other players not to let the TF fall into the hands of an “Evil Empire”.
The possibility of the TF giving free Tech and Resources to Allied empires should be cause for caution on the part of a predatory player. Then again, it could be a “Feint with in a Feint” and the TF could end up giving Tech to a “pre planned’ future Ally of the EE.
Destroying / Capturing the FT would be like “Killing the Goose that Laid the Golden Egg”
Yes, I like the uncertainty.

Business Ideas Section:
I could also see an initial “Transaction Fee” for opening an account such as Gifting a planet.
I personally would not do it but I could see an FT player running a “Slave Trade” where they would trade in “Atmosphere Breathing Types”. I would never “sell” my population for any reason. Come to think of it. Ethics was sorta what got this thread started. What to do with out of supply ships => what to do ethically => dmm’s idea of a Trade Federation.
Which generates another thought.
The FT could play more than one race. That would
Avoid the modding issues
Make them a formidable opponent
There would be a lot of interesting Ramifications.