I know each sector is rather on the large side. Okay, downright huge. I was thinking that instead of using so much space for a lot of nothing, we could try using some of these long distances with nothing in them to put in an exploration aspect- maybe make it such that if you travel over 100km from the nearest solid object (or prehaps 200-400km from sector center), you'll be 'snuck-warped' into the next sector over. Since you're going from one really empty spot in a sector to another really empty spot in the next sector, the sector load transition could be 'hidden' by the client as the player blissfully travels through the void.

This could be a way to introduce so-called "secret" sectors without requiring a full blown new system. Someone who travels beyond the edge of the system might find hidden sectors, full of rare minerals, covert military installations, plot-soaked NPCs, intriguing natural phenomina, or, if they're unlucky, something right out of H.P. Lovecraft's works. Once found, said sectors could be given an artificial designation and listed seperately from the main system map- just click the name and warp, it could be a scrolling listbox for all intents and purposes yet still work. Plus, it would be a whoop to start talking in guild or group chat and have the sector listed as "Quantum Singularity"- the O.o factor alone would make my day ;)

I like the idea, but "Quantum Singularity"? Too much DKE?