Actually, you can get expertise on weapons pre-50

Yes, yes it does...Bolster scales stats/gear to level 49. A fully geared level 10 with blues and purps can put out more damage than a true level 49 who is only in greens or missing a few gear slots. A level 15 in gear that is for levels 13-15 is going to be much better off gear wise than a level 40 in gear for a level 30 as a further example. Sure you are still missing several skills, but the over all stat increase from Bolster will be greater as it is based on your current level and gear and how that would translate to being a level 49.

Better management of CCs....either with a shorter CD on escapes, more escapes (perhaps a class like JK/SW with an AoE escape?) or less CCs across the board to all classes.

Wait, so when someone dings a level and goes to the trainer they don't need those skills they just want those skills? Because that is what I wrote about...I made a point of saying I am not trying to get the best speeder or that speeder training was needed, as well as not buying any gear off of the GTN. Further, I didn't train all the crafting skills, in fact I just picked one or two to level up because I would out level most of it till capped. So, I am not sure where you are getting that I am spending the credits on wants instead of needs. Further, I wasn't complaining, I was validating the point made on by the OP and suggested that at 25-35% reduction in costs is not out of line. You're are making assumptions about what I am talking about and misquoting without actually reading what I wrote...Stop doing that

Why is it that the people who see no problem with the various costs are the ones who are saying they have all these credits and the game is easy mode for making in game money? I have read a lot of these types of threads, and eventually it turns into a casual vs. hardcore debate, with those who see no problem saying that those who do, want to remove the costs completely cause they can't put in the time to farm dailies and mats. The economics in this game are a bit rough, basics such as training and repairs could really use at least a 25-35% reduction. I have played several different MMOs, I did the whole hardcore raiding thing, I got tired of it for all sorts of reasons. I've been there, I get it, and I am not saying they should be removed. However, I have a fresh 50 gunslinger and only 20K on him at the moment. Keeping creds on that character has been a pain the whole time leveling. I don't buy gear, I don't mess with the GTN, all I have spent the creds on that character for has been crafting and training. I will be the first to admit I am not the best with a DPS class (and the tanking companions leave something to be desired) so I have spent I don't know how many credits on repairs. I can't even get that character over 50K credits as I try and open the dailies cause I am having to do repairs. That is a problem in my view. I am not looking to get rich quick on my smuggler here, I am not looking to have the most expensive speeder to show off or even trying to avoid doing dailies or farm mats. I just want to be able to get through the quests to open up the dailies without having to backtrack and find low level quests I might have missed, or be carried by a guildmate. Before I get the whole L2P nonsense, I also have a 42 Vanguard that has around 400K. Granted that might not be a lot, but I always have enough to train and craft (maxed on all his crew skills at 40.) I also didn't take the speeder training as I don't see the point in 260K for a 10% increase in speed (but that's me, and I don't want to get into the same mess I have with my 50.) I know how to have credits/gold for things. I don't like messing with the GTN, to buy or sell. I know it is fun for some and I am all for that, they can have their millions of credits, and fancy speeders, they earned it. But I shouldn't have to play the market to afford repairs, vendoring loot should be more than enough. TL;DR version I have done the whole hardcore raiding thing, I get it. I don't have a problem doing the dailies or farming to get the top end stuff. But when someone is leveling on the appropriate level range planet and has to put off training skills (and I am not talking about speeder skills) cause they spent too much on repairs...I think that is a problem that should be addressed and a 25-35% reduction in repair and training costs is not out of line.

Why can't the artists figure out how to say when...even the coats are out of control, short sleeve dusters with wacked out designs...more gear like the Intro video or Han Solo please and less Lando with his pimp capes.

I would have to go with a Theocracy...The Dark Council in theory functioning parallel to the the government. This would account for the Sith only getting involved when they feel like it and not worrying about all the day to day running of the Empire. The Sith still maintain absolute control as the Emperor/Dark Council would be making all the high level appointments etc. It would also explain the divide between Sith and Military/Intel. The military functions for and by the government but are still subject to decisions made by the Dark Council. A real world example of this would be Iran.