I am very excited for this. Everything Matt said last resonates well with me and I can barely wait to see this project continue. I feel like it moves a lot of the responsibility for the tone of the setting to us as players, and gives us the power to shape it. We can choose whether our characters look to a brighter future and are willing to sacrifice for it. Personally I can see that my characters each get more motivation for the work they do, and the morals and ideals they try to bring into the rounds actually start to matter.
One thing I am very curious about, is whether the possible roles on the ship will be dependent on the money too? For example it might not make sense for a xenobotanist to be available, if money are currently tight since it depends on the dynamic equipment. Research seems like a high-risk area for a ship such as the Blood Diamond, even if mechanically it is quite profitable too in the right hands. Will the AI exist before we have certain funds, and does having an AI possibly increase the tithe we have to pay?
I find anything dynamic like this highly interesting, so looking forward to seeing what the devs decide!