I just think that a good focus for Zone is to focus on features exclusive to its own. So further elaborating on Squads and Ships that are already unique to Zone, it would be good to develop more options for players to customize and personalize it. Rather than those features just being a small unique thing, it could be one of the main attractive features of Zone.
"Customize, Create, and Trade Ship parts to build the ultimate galaxy cruiser your friends wish they could have"
It opens the possibility of players wanting something to work for. Keep GFXer's busy in making random parts, or gun attachments to ships, etc...
That is about all I got though.