What is the likely future of the old rod shops? As currently the game "starts" with you next to one, will this starting point simply be another station (such as the Traders NPC faction home base normally found at 4,4,4) or the player to appear at a (random?) point in space?
Because the Traders Faction and Trading Guild are obvious crossovers and I seem to recall mention that the Trading Guild being phased out anyway, it would appear that the first option is indeed more than viable. Players do however rely upon the random rod shop appearing, especially in non factioned/explored space and would benefit from the appearance of an independent shop/trading post of some kind.
Because the Traders Faction and Trading Guild are obvious crossovers and I seem to recall mention that the Trading Guild being phased out anyway, it would appear that the first option is indeed more than viable. Players do however rely upon the random rod shop appearing, especially in non factioned/explored space and would benefit from the appearance of an independent shop/trading post of some kind.