I know you can use legacy storage, but you still have to earn them regardless. Also, having max influence affects dialogue moving forward. It isn't just for star fortresses. Lastly, having to grind for multiple characters to reach the same result really gets tiresome. There is a difference between working hard to get something and a pointless grind.
P.S. Many of us don't have that kind of time to grind away for multiple toons. Think on this.