Zoners

[Anaximander]

So it was a good thing that faction power was kept in check in that specific case?

I'm all for guidelines in this game; but I think there are many other things we could do. Bounty Boards could demand proof of hostile status with targets, not accept all loadouts unless the hunter had permission to the tech used, tech thieves could be hunted down more vigilantly, Capital Ship Registries could be used positively to promote events and interaction between indies and faction players. I fear that the gap between faction players and indies will grow if official factions were given more formal power.

For instance I joined team RNC simply by chance; I undocked on a brand new ship, and got taught how to pilot my ship better and how to follow the Fleet Commander's orders. I will follow that fleet commander any day over some random person showing up flashing a tag and saying "I'm your boss, now do what I say", and I think that the "boss-man attitude" will be enforced with more formal faction powers. Indies will gladly follow if you set a good example.