Well, it is about to try and start playing.
I have done some MP testing alone and the tactical stuf is removed, not even the IA of your own ship retourns fire. You have to do it all yourself.
Also the "scenarios" are rather limited, but I think that on a human vs human match the game would be quite fun and interesting.
If we could have a way to edit the sceneraios and add merchies or a nice coast, it would be great.
I think this game has just born but with some modding and comunity imput we can get nice things from it.
Maybe we could arrange to have a MP match.
I would be online most afternoons and evenings until 2nd January, let me know when it is ok for you and I can create a server and we can give it a try.