I can't see any documents you're working on, Methuselas, so I don't know how you're doing things, but I would like to encourage using the style of mapping and stat keeping established in Alpha Dawn. In fact, I would would recommend keeping close to Alpha Dawn to attract and maintain interest. CleanCutRogue likes the idea of ship stat sheets that are the same as character sheets. You can look at the Star Wars Saga Edition Rulebook for an idea about how that is accomplished if that idea interests you. Don't forget, too, that while Knight Hawks messed up on a lot, there's still some things you can get out of it, particularly regarding roleplaying (not the board game, mind you, but in actually playing the roles).

Just some thoughts.