Having read through some more posts I'm even less sure what the Pythons role is.
Heavy trader?
Trading cruiser?
Heavily armed armoured things normally cost a lot to run and hence make themselves non-viable traders
We don't use type 42 destroyers to transport cargo for a reason
What really is the Python supposed to be?
The other thing that occurs to me is that the Python isn't a naval vessel like the drop ship say. Currently the Python and other ships lack full context because not all ships are out yet. So question is, of the ships to come, are there dedicated naval ships say corvette, frigate, destroyer, cruiser equivalents that would put the Python in its place?
That is the thing: in the lore/earlier games/novels heavy traders have a very specific purpose. If you want to move 200+ tons of algae from one core world to another, you use a T9. But what if you need to transport a heavy load of pure gold, prototype technologies or other extremely high value commodities through high-risk anarchy systems? You would be a pirate magnete for lightyears around. It should be flat-out impossible to do that in a T6/7/9, and that is where the condie and python come in. Heavy duty freighters that can scare off any pirated drooling over what could be his early retirement at a beach villa.
And this is where the problems start: there is no danger. You don't need to use the Python for trading. You can mindlessly drag whatever you want wherever you want, and people are now expecting 2million/hour risk-free profits as if that is normal. So:
1) The Python's main role does not exist yet.
2) Risk-free trading is way too profitable.
3) Because of that other professions feel like unwanted step-children.
4) People are finding new uses for the Python, at which it is unexpectedly good.
5) FD notices this and 'corrects' the mistake.
6) People go nuts.
What needs to happen is anarchy systems should be much more dangerous and offer much better prices. That way normal 'carebear' trading is still possible but less profitable. Meanwhile the Python will serve the traders who like to live on the edge, and the now-vacant battleship role can be filled with a new, dedicated, ship. It will give more choices for all, balance things out nicely and will spice trading up for those who want to. Those who want to play Space Truck Simulator are unaffected as long as they stay out of anarchy systems. By the way, the above somewhat illustrates how interconnected everything is. Giving each ship its own place and function is very, very difficult and I really don't blame the devs for occasionally correcting things a bit. It is inevitable, really.
