I thought it was pretty tough actually! Unless you begin with a good strategy you start at the bottom and have to work really hard to move up.
I enjoyed the effects! Luck can really be against you to go from 'lose points for killing enemies' to 'no weapons for you', but when you happen to get lucky you can get a really good run! I like the ship itself being the damage indicator.
This is excellent! I enjoyed hoarding resources while prices were low so I could sell them when they went up >:D