What you need to roleplay successfully (read: do more than shout forum posts into the void) is people. Factions provide that by default, otherwise make like Ms. Second Life here and start making friends, business contacts, allies, shooty-buddies, whatever you wanna call them. Holy god is it ever boring to play Freelancer alone, don't do that.
Howard Williams - CEO, Williams-Mordhauser Distributing - "Just try and stop us"
Caroline Convair - General Secretary, Williams-Mordhauser Distributing - "Please excuse the CEO"