Powerplay Benefits of PP allegiance?

[Stealthie]

This question probably shows incredible ignorance but I freely admit being utterly clueless about the politics of the ED universe...

In a nutshell, what are the tangible benefits of choosing to pledge my allegiance to one PP faction or another?

I've read stuff about the negative consequences of PP allegiance but I don't think I've ever seen anything explaining what the benefits are.

I'm interested in participating in as much of the stuff ED has to offer as possible but I don't want to sign up for something that might, effectively, make my life harder in 66% of the bubble unless there are also good reasons to do it as well. :S

 

[Arkadi]

The negative consequences of powerplay have been diminished with 2.2.03 update. Powerplay NPC ships now have to scan you. If you don't carry powerplay supplies or undermining merits and you are not wantd they should leave you alone now.

The main negative effect of powerplay is that it promises something that it can't quite hold. It brings you not much new. It' is no alternative to the PVE centric hauling-competitions this game seems to embrace in a very intense love-affair and it brings you another set of combat-zones. If you really want to aid your power you will have to haul lots of stuff around and/or sit in combat-zones for hours. I can imagine you might already have done this very tasks in other parts of the game.

But if you enjoy a new background for your hauling and CZ shooting - here you have it.

The only new and fresh option in powerplay is ...dramatic pause ... undermining! The fascinating hunt of you powerplay-opponents in supercruise! Use your interdictor and fight it out with those powerplay NPCs, system-securitys and bountyhunters coming after you.

Ok, the very fun of powerplay comes if you join the powerplay communities and engage in team-work, planing and numbercrunshing, wing-action, roleplay and fooling around on discord...

Basic stuff: at rank 5 you get 50.000.000 cr per week if you can retain it and after week 4 you get access to the incredible famed and dreaded powerplay gadgets. Have I forgotten something?

edit: of course. powers also bring unique bonusses like special tradeperks or bounty multiplyers or such... read it in the power tab ingame.

Actually there is nothing negative I can think of. The only reason not to join powerplay in my eyes is, if you like to play in open, but you don't want to pick a side and get a PvP target for powerplayers of other factions - but I think you know how to evade combat if you need to - and if not I am sure someone will be eager to show you how to.