If your ship is destroyed, your pod has a chance to warp out of the battle. If your pod is destroyed, you die.
If you die, hope that you've updated your clone with all of your skills.
(Ships in the game are controlled by people in pods with their minds. Nobody actually sits in a roosterpit and operates the ship manually. :D)
Sounds interesting, yet complex.
Also,
My thoughts are that you've got to head out to the dangerous areas to get the best stuff. But you'd better be prepared to get out in a pinch, or have the backups if something doesn't go right. (updated clones, good insurance, ect.)
Que?
Off Topic: forget I can't make any of Jake's AoB classes, on account of that 3 day server ban :C