I am not against what Ktayn or Prowler are saying. In fact I shall offer a proposal for such a thing very shortly.
I just want to first re-establish our core line of business in H-Fuel.
H-Fuel got left behind since 4.85, so much so we should be calling ourselves the PMG (Plutonium Miners Guild!).
I believe it is possible to establish the necessary economic bonuses/handicaps for H-Fuel mining in both the Sigmas AND Hokkaido.
It is as simple as including an extra factor in the equation, namely what system you are in.
Sigma-13 is being depleted, Hokkaido isnt up to the same level of efficiency and output. Sigma-19 and Okinawa are expanding operations.
So it wouldnt matter if Hokkaido is closer to, say, the Kusari Front Lines where H-Fuel would be in demand - if it takes you longer to collect your goods then the time vs. profit ratio is balanced.
With small zones around each gas miner - miners could end up competing for space - jostling for the best miners closest to a tradelane or jump hole. For certain whoever owns the miners would be shooing away poachers!
Using FLExplorer I came up with some numbers of gas miners:
Sigma-19 = 16
Sigma-13 = 11 (could start cutting down on the numbers as the fuel is running out).
Okinawa = 4 (could start increasing the numbers as production picks up).
Hokkaido = 3
Limiting 'mining' space could be another means of balancing the system.
Now, as for the idea of additional commodities. I would like to propose the following gas for the Doryu Cloud:
XENON
1) Isotopes can be radioactive - accounting for the radiation in the Doryu Cloud.
2) It can form solid compounds - thus making for little rocks to mine.
3) It has applications for Ion Engines (ie: all our Impulse Engines), lasers, scientific instruments, nuclear reactors and more!