I like the space missions. They are just mini-games though, something fun to do to break up the regular questing and I think the graphics for them are really well done. They said space combat is one of the things they are already working on improving. Because its on rails I could easily seem them adding multiplayer missions with each person getting a different track, some together others apart, to complete different objectives. As far as PvP I don't see it working unless they take it off rails but I could be wrong.
If your having trouble, getting blown up a lot, you might want to make sure you are doing the right space battles. They don't tell you were to go once you get a mission so you have to hunt down the right one on your galaxy map, made that mistake the first time.
If some people don't like them well... nothing to be done about it. You can just ignore the space combat missions altogether and wait and see if they create something you like later on down the line.