Influence victory dosn't have substance, I mean think about it, it's the lazy way to achieve a conquest victory. You dominate most of the galaxy and as soon as you reach 75%, you stop and make peace and win. It's just 25% short of going all the way with a conquest victory. They should just eliminate influence from the game and replace it with "owned planets" when it comes to having an advantage in a council vote. Whomever has the most planets has an advantage in the votes. For example ...

1. Alterians = 6 planets
2. Drengin = 4
3. Yor = 4
4. Terran alliance = 5

The vote is "yes" for 1&2 and "no" for 3&4, so the "yes = 10" and "no = 9". Therefore the "yes" tally wins...

Also, the idea of an influence starbase dosn't make sense. One way you can convert a planet's inhabitants to rebel against their own government and join yours in Dark Avatar, is going to be with your spies. Imagine targeting their entertainment centers and farms, as soon as their vulnerable you can attack them with your troops. Or have an emergency vote in the council to vote which civilization is going to take control over that planet.