i guess i just feel like combat is at the mercy of everyone unless combat comes into the game with a trade alliance... unless they go the route of cruisers + advanced shipyards and go around with a 500cruiser fleet till they can make up some RO. I guess combat would work if you try to not be noticed, make your stuff really really difficult to take and then make a lucky nab at someones RO stock, make a PK and get lucky.
I think that traders are set up to be the big bullies in the playground but if you look at the actual win conditions its pretty even (although we haven't seen fleet yet)