X3 Reunion is probably the best in the series for me at any rate. I bought the X Superbox. However if the X series don't rock your boat, why not try Oolite, Pioneer or Fronter First Encounters 3D. Those 3 are great free, open source Elite re-makes. Pioneer is still in alpha though but playable, think Frontier Elite 2 but with much improved graphics

Well, I imagine the rationale behind not wanting to trade is more about not wanting to do fedex missions/trade runs as opposed to not wanting to spend cash on a TS

Well I can't speak for others, but for me this is clearly the case. I don't mind some travel phases (once again, I really loved the Independence War series) but I definitely prefer to shoot things. If I need to do some trade runs between missions to earn some cash, like in Freelancer, I'm fine. But I prefer to earn money as a bounty hunter or by playing nicely designed missions.

People BUY transports? I assumed that everyone did my usual route and went shopping in pirate space for a "previously loved" model. I ended up with a trading empire of more than 30 transports with fighter escort all for the cost of repair and reequipping my "acquired" ships.

Add that fleet to a couple of Solar Power Plants and Silicon Mines and you've got the recipe to a massive amount of cash