You have missed the original point of the discussion about Environmental story-telling. We were not talking about lore or narrative gameplay content (which I know is good in ED) but what a place or location tells you without having to read anything. For instance, you know workers are not treated well in Hurston just by getting out of your hab and looking around. And you know that the Hurston family doesn't care about the planet just by flying around the city. Are there some systems/places in ED that tell you something more than Thargoïds were there, some guys abandonned their place or had accident there just by looking without reading (genuine question) ?
Off the top of my head, and it has been a while since my Cmdr has been in populated space
Other than the Thargoid incursions and rescue and repair states you noted.
Anarchy controlled Star Ports have the classic "Rise up, Never Surrender" vs the Imperial Basking and Federal FNS#s and Green Alliance, Blue Federal, and Dark Grey Star Port detailing.
Ships coming and going from Anarchy Star Ports have pirate type livery
Hanger Bays have an Icon showing the start port type and Ring Cities Ring Cities have Super Power logos
System Security numbers at the star port for security level, and the four Super Power Allegiances have distinct livery on their system security ships and designation from Allied Police, Internal Security Service and Federal Service and their own Special Police forces (I forget the game term) with a distinct name, livery and ship kits.
Within a system Jurisdiction changes changing who you encounter within 1000 km of orbital star ports and 250km of surface star ports so you can "cross the boarder" even within a system
Super Power Based Star Port Ads, Super Power Based Star Port Traffic Control and Banners for Controlling Power Play Power.
Traffic Control also has a different greeting based on your rep with them making allied places feel different from factions you have upset.
They also have final comments based on controlling faction state.
Super Cruise traffic reflects system state as does signal sources so War state will see different traffic and comms chatter and signal sources than a system in famine
The Greeting in the Star Port Services menu, which is the controlling Faction,
Who greets you depends on your rep with the faction, each Faction government type has different ranks of representative, and will make comment based on the faction state current pending or pass
All of the above changes as Star Port change hands between factions and Factions change state to reflect the control of a system, the security, state of war and peace, and economic climate.
There could be more and I have not managed to land anywhere to disembark to see note if anything changes for the above in the social hubs