Here's an idea for mining/bases/economy in general:
Make it so NPC bases don't sell refined goods unless they are first supplied with mined ores/gases.
Ex. Graves in Dublin first needs to be filled with Gold Ore (which...let's say is a modest price at about $1500/ea, which it then converts (at let's say...10 units/sec) into refined Gold, which can then be purchased at let's say $2000/ea.
Now, you could play with the fact that refineries/bases farther from Dublin might buy the gold ore for more, but may also take longer to convert it to refined gold (make that one of the perks for BMM/Mollies).
Also, destinations that are farther from refineries might purchase the refined products at a even higher rate than the ores....more work involved, but bigger payoff.
You could even do the same kind of thing with Tobacco and Cigars, Uranium Ore (if there were such a thing) and MOX, Scrap/Premium Scrap with Manifolds or Engine Parts, Basic/Super Alloys and Ship Hull Panels, etc.
I'm not sure how doable any of this would be...but hey...while we're pipe dreaming, right?
