Some features may be quite easy to code as a mechanics, yet not that much easy to integrate properly, because it also needs rebalancing or changing the interface. At the same time, Aurora cannot be split on release and beta, to test beta features as it works traditionally.
So, my suggestion is: maybe it’s worth trying to implement such features without rebalancing and even testing the interface, yet hide these features from the general mass of players (to avoid confusion and unexpected bugs) behind an checkbox or even a flag in the database, yet let some players who are interested in (and/or indifferent to the game balance as such) to test them and report the results in some form without the need to urgently fix any related bugs, glitches or disbalances.
I’d make here separate posts about some features I think are of this category. Add yours if you want some other.
Installation that may replace or supplement current Financial Centers.
Currently, Financial Centers are creating wealth without any industry or trade goods. The suggestion that maybe it’s better to redo it as an industry wealth output multiplier requires rebalancing the financial part of the entire economical part of the game, wich is not an easy task.
It’s possible to add such alternative wealth generation mechanics, add the installation in question into the database, yet do not switch is visible. The players who want to test it may switch it on by editing the database.
And interesting part is, which industry this has to count as their source of benefits. Just the same colony is a bit too much limiting. I’d make it more integrating: (the same colony) + (the same body colonies) * (their parts on the planetary trade, based on the diplomatic status, Trade * (1-Xenophobia) + colony’s interplanetary trade income).
Installation (something like Consumer Factory) that boosts production of industrial trade goods.
The additional field in the trade goods table, which marks the industrial ones, may be set 0 in release. Testers may rename and/or mark some goods as industrial, switch the installation as visible and test the balance.