I'll preface this by saying I actually really liked the basebuilding mechanics in Fallout 4, and always built my settlements up to the standards and connected them in a sensible way. It felt like bringing a bit of life and something of your own to the world!
So, I've been thinking about how to go about settling interesting planets we might come across. Will you build on planets with settlements already on them (if that's possible?), or will you search for your "own" planet and claim parts of it as yours? Will you disperse you settlements across many systems, or rather focus them in a single system?
Personally, I'll probably go for the latter option of centralization. Maybe I'll start with the Wanted trait and found my own empire in a single system, building that system up to the max before spreading out :).
This is also my first post in the Fediverse, and I'd love to hear your ideas!
edit: owm -> own
I do like the idea of having a small refuge wherever you go, and it also nicely connects to Constellations idea of exploring! As for the economic differences, sounds really cool, but I think it's beyond the scope of this game... maybe with mods.