So far my games have ended 1 of 2 ways: Either I go from 100 reputation to negatives and the game ends, or I maintain my reputation and no clients ever appear, starving me out. The game is dying for some balance.
If you want to know how to just make the best ship: 3 magnets, 1 gun, the rest is all missiles and zappers. You play the game by holding down space bar. There's no reason to move the ship.