The more I think about it, the more I like this idea. The core Pilots Federation ranks don't mean all that much now once you get Elite, and some would understandably argue that they don't mean all that much anyway. This would offer a more clear progression path that isn't as limited by a specific play style choice or gold rushes. Say, more rewarding and varied mission types that offer these sorts of things as bonuses for us to choose from and unlocking some things and/or materials for the possibility of being purchased incrementally. This way just getting credits isn't the limiting factor, but you also have play and progress in the game.
Mission reward types could cap off at some level to maintain some semblance of balance, but purchasable items and materials being incremental would mean that they would just be limited by you playing and continuing to progress in the game. Or maybe just have these higher tier missions become available incrementally as well. The ranks and rank progression might have to be rebalanced a bit, at least for their beyond Elite internal scores, but I think it's doable.
This wouldn't be instead of what we have now, but in addition to it, offering players more freedom of choice in how they might care to approach and play the game.
Add in some flavor-text, and it's almost like you'd have a personalized narrative of sorts.
Then add in some Pilots Federation bases, stations, and outposts around the bubble and Colonia where these sort of things can be acquired (maybe rank locked, maybe not) and call it a done deal.
...
Just an idea, of course. I'm sure there's something terribly wrong with it that I'm not thinking of at the moment. [hehe]
