Zach I would have to agree with you with regard to addressing religious aspects of the Klingons and Bajorans, however if developers gave one aspect of gaming to one race they would simply have to give a similar aspect to all races in game.

For Instance

Bajorans = Peace religious culture = + 1 to health, healing.

Klingons = Warrior base Religion = +1 to HP, Endurance

Humans = Explorer based culture = +1 to (insert skill)

Vulcan = Logic based Culture = +1 to Intelligence, etc, etc)

Romulans = Politcal based culture = +1 to subversion, diplomacy

Ferrangi = Monitary based society = +1 to economics

I guess what I am saying is that it seems natural that STO should have a very strong skill based gaming core that accomadates the individual factions strong points. For instance it is feasible that a Ferrangi could be a Warrior however they would get the Cultural bonus that a Klingon would and vice versa a Klingon could be a merchant but would have to work harder then a Ferrangi, as For Vulcans they could be an even balance between Humans with regard to intelligence and exploration but also be well balanced in the Warrior Trait as well.

Now of course a lot of these figures can be manipulated by having different technologies that one might take with them on a mission or even varrying degrees of Starfleet or Racial specific Training that would then increase those skills.

well this would pretty much comply to all other RPG formats, and if it aint broke dont fix it i suppose.

I would be cool if you could join other organizations and maybe gain ranks there. The problem would that either this should be a minor faction, or PE's idea of being only able to play Starfleet should be dropped. (I think only Starfleet is a good thing, since otherwise ppl would be all over the place joining anything they see, and the Star Trek feel would be lost.)

What is this "2012?"

I think religion should be explored in certain storylines, that's fine... no reason to run from it, but as for players and religious stances for the avatars, it's pretty clear on the show that players with Federation education are taught religion is just 'misunderstood science at best' that was the whole point of Keiko's school storyline on DS9, and I think that's a good line to trod on such a divisive concept in a fiction where unity is paramount.

Bajorans, are of course, the exception, but that really comes down to storyline.  Bajorans don't have any personal advantages by following the wormhole aliens.

I'd prefer not to have arbitrary/artificial gameplay effects because it crushes my immersion and reminds me of the artificial systems of traditional fantasy MMOs and makes me think the developers have omitted creativity.  It bothers me more than most, I presume.