Some of us did play a lot of EvE....

One of the factors to bringing in the time based build and skill learning was to keep things a little more even. Since it's a strategy game at heart we want to give the real-time movement, so you can explore and do various things while waiting for skills, or things to build.

At the same time we wanted to try to make it so people could have an even shot without having to micro-manage every aspect of their empire, and not give those that are 100% focused any huge advantage because they micro-manage.

While babysitting the game will give you a certain amount of edge due to exploration, and being ready to send your ships else where as soon as they reach a destination, it won't give you an advantage in what you can build, or learn. Although there is nothing wrong with knowing where your enemies.. er friends are..