I think the real issue here is Diplomacy.
Diplomacy is SO overpowered and needs to be nerfed IMMEDIATELY. NO OTHER crew skill allows you to gain lightside or darkside points AT ALL.
Not having diplomacy is costing me 800,000 credits a raid because when I have all my companions out on crew skill missions all they do is bring me back worthless crafting materials, when instead, I could be getting a near infinite amount of lightside/darkside points WHILE getting these crafting materials.
Please remove Diplomacy from the game.
Also, credits are far too hard to earn in this game. If we could say... have credits mailed to us periodically? I think this would fix some of the problems, such as Biochem being too awesome.
See how ridiculous you sound?