Thanks for your kind words!
1) Larger ships tend to get killed less often in combat; scouts are usually the first to go in tough combats. Anyway, future Versions will eliminate the 9 ships, and go to 3 more distinct types.
2) Yes, this was somewhat undocumented, but was done to allow people to play past the winning "goal" of the game, if they wish to. You do have to withdraw the money and have it in hand (allowing for due loans take you below the winning amount, which must be paid before you can win) to win and end the game.
3) Good idea; in fact, future Versions of the game will increase gas usage according the size of your cargo hold and amount of ships in your fleet.
Tip for Nanotech and Domain Wars: Be conservative with spending early on, for the most part, unless you feel like gambling. Build your forces slowly and only spend on what is necessary early on. It's possible to "rush" progress somewhat, but it is risky in both games.
Thank you for your support and have fun with the games! If you have any other questions, feel free to write here or send me an e-mail. I'm always happy to help out or chat about the games.