Are you expecting a single starship to be able to have a large effect on a planetary economy?
To be honest, yes. I would expect a single commander to be able to affect at least a small population system. Not quickly but at least at a noticable pace.
It might not be realistic ( as with much else anyway ) but it would at least be more fun to see things change a little.
The "background simulation" is so far nothing but a gimmick and while some say it isnt working properly, ill say it isnt working at all. And even if it did, it would do little difference since most player wont notice whatever differences it might throw around.
You will likely have moved on before that change occur and if you ever revisit youll probably have forgotten about it.
Its a very interesting concept in a grand scale, but for all intents and purposes it fills no use to players. Not in its current form or the vision FDev seem to have.
Make it more interactive and change occur at a faster pace and things would quickly become interesting.
Then let it start wars that draws players to defend/attack, let it include attacks on stations and outposts, let community missions be created to rebuild/repair damaged assets and so on.
Let it happen over the course of a week or two, not months.
And we might have a background simulation that we can actually enjoy.
Its not far from what is already planned, only a bit fadter and more playerdriven.
