Basic models sounds good. Besides, nothing like drooling over a cool ship to make you want to buy the game and work for it

i'd say it's better to make the NPC Mauds, valks and proms, more common (i don't think i've seen any to be honest). that way players can see the high end ships in operation but the stats are still a mystery untill they get more experience (or look it up on thye wiki).

true they are often used by PCs but most PCs don't spend much time in the n00b sectors so they don't interact with new players much.