One thing I always dislike seeing is the ability to buy stuff outright. It seems a curse of games which have monetary systems. It doesn't seem to matter what I want to buy, big or small, if I have the cash someone mysteriously pops up with a matter transmorgrifier and "poof" - instant
I prefer to see money used to overdrive production, buy off rebellious citizens, and even to buy your opponent some headaches.
Put it this way, if a race can make a starship in a day why would they need them?