I'd prefer:
- System design: Environmental Storytelling
- Travel times: Perfect as it is!
- System connectivity: Streamlined (for more action bottlenecks)
Overall I think the current state is really well done. I'd move on with the story a bit to spark some interest. Perhaps in the form of conflicts.
The events you've been doing recently are really good! Like the cardamine crisis and the monsoon on Kyushu! Keep them coming!
a lot of my main points have already been said, but I'll just skim over some things I'd like to add
travel times seem fine as they are, only thing I find weird is that Cardamine routes are faster going through Kusari, when inRP the "Cardamine Highway" goes through Bretonia. other than that it seems fine
one thing I'd like to see is just more systems in general. one of the main drawing points of discovery is all it's new features, especially systems. one of the, actually probably the, best part of 5.0 (actually, I think from all updates I've seen) was seeing the new systems. systems like Omicron Pi, Alaska, Tau 61, Earhart, etc are very cool, and I would not be opposed to seeing more of them in the future.
on the flip side, one thing I didn't like from 5.0 was seeing systems getting removed to increase player interaction, being a repeat of another system, or something else. streamlining the systems is a good idea, but also it allows for more additions to be made. removing systems and connections feels like a void is made. also, some systems don't neccessarily have to be streamlined either to increase interactions. there could be main routes, and main systems that are the fastest ways of travel, that are meant to be hubs or main routes, and other "side systems" that somewhat out of the way, but still have purposes to them.
basically, I think streamlining is preferable, with "side systems", not just one way guard systems. also, Omicron Pi, Tau 61, Earhart, etc are great. the more, (especially in regards to the deep Omicrons) the better