1. If I'm Science, and I buy someone out, let's say an expansive player, does all the buildings then start acting like Science buildings, mining resources from the ground?

Or the other way around, if I was expansive and I buy a Science player, does his buildings stop mining the resources?

2. When you buy someone out, it seems you don't get their debt or cash. (Unless I'm mistaken) I'm wondering how the game would change if you did get the debt or cash, or maybe only a %, let's say 25%.

Ideas:

Some mechanism where you buy shares or upgrade the home base to your benefit. (And I don't mean the new game mode). Maybe something like mining rights that need to be renewed every now and then.

Add a silicon based faction, use silicon in stead of carbon like the Scavengers.

Prospecting: You can search for resources, but only you see them, until they are developed, then everyone can see them.

Weather: Affects a portion of the map, stopping or slowing the transport ships for a time.