So, let me see if I have this right.
1. The lockbox missions were never actually intended to make the player money.
2. The player is meant to make money by harvesting the semi-rare slicing nodes.
3. The only other use for slicing are the augment missions which take an inordinate amount of time and credits to complete and may or may not even give you an augment fit for your character.
So, that leaves me with a few questions.
1. IF the player was never intended to make money from lockbox missions, why were the lockbox missions included in the first place? Was that BW's form of a joke?
2. If the only way for a slicer to make money is by harvesting the slicing nodes, what happens when the level 50 planets are full of players? Will the never ending hunt for that next star on the mini-map add or detract from game play and story?
3. When players get their endgame gear will slicing lose what little is left of its worth as a skill? With no augments left to wait hours for the only use it could even possess is that semi-rare lock box with a pittance of credits inside. How is this fair to the player who used 33% of his crew skills on this and now has nothing to show for it?
What I'm trying to say is, in it's current state, does slicing help or hinder player experience? Is it ok for the player to feel like he/she has been cheated because he keeps losing money on missions that tell him he will only gain money?