i don't want the point of entry for starter ships to be really at all any more difficult than it is right now, i just want the skill ceiling to be higher at larger sizes. the thing that makes people what to get better at the game is content that they've not learned to use to full potential yet, right?
a sense of progression as you learn the functions of more and more blocks, and how to use them to your advantage is important to players who are average but might want more from the game. it's like... minimal effort is easily achievable, but if you're the type that wants to go further, all the layers of complexity that one can utilize past the minimum is like starmade's closest equivalent to "new game plus."
bringing the skill ceiling too low means that the difference between a very dedicated player versus a beginner will be much less significant than it should be.