Challenge games

On the point of repair costs, you are right, they become irrelevant after a short amount of time. However, if we were able to upgrade the ship's hull integrity, giving it more hp, the repair costs would have a legitimate reason to increase.

As for the loot, I strongly believe that's one of the things they are working on as we wait. Either that, if they are adding more buildable and tradeable options. Regardless, I feel like we will have a lot more freedom with making new strategies and we will not be limited to the rapid fire projectile cannon strategy we've all become accustomed to.