I've got an idea. It's perhaps a step towards crafting that could be implemented on top of the current system. Let's say you're out in the boonies somewhere mining, and fill your hold with ferric and carbonic ore, worth 5c/unit.

You take it into a UIT Mining station, and a dialog box pops up, asking if you want to refine it for 1c/unit. You do, and now you've got premium ferric and carbonic ore that's worth maybe 12c/unit.

You take that in to a Xiang Xi station, and it notes that you've got the components to create steel, and they say they'll smelt it for you for 5c/unit. Steel is worth 22c/unit.

You bring the steel down to a UIT manufactury, and for 10c/unit, they convert it into armor plating. Armor plates are worth approximately 70c/unit. Sell that at an armory and you've got yourself not only a tasty profit for your time, but lots of trade skill points, because you sold it for mega profit, and also hauled it a long distance.

Atlas (32 units)Total profit: 2240c
I suggest that skill points be 1/3 to 1/2 that, or around 1000c.

I like the idea, but I think that a reduction in volume is appropriate for most steps... For example, 2 ferrics get refined into 1 premium ferric, and then 2 premium ferric + 1 premium carbonic makes 2 steel, etc.

This would require people to either stockpile enough to result in a full end run or specialize in one leg of the process.

Agreed. Good idea!

Plus, that would give extra purpose to the 'holding space' in the station. Since you can't really put a factory on a fighter-class ship, it would restore purpose to the load and unload cargo commands. You could keep making a run of one kind and storing it in the station until you had enough to take to the next leg.

seconded!!

I love both of these ideas, and hope we see them sometime soon

Remember that you're dealing with a virtual economy, with fixed resources and growing population. Eventually there will not be enough for everyone.