SFC is cool, I did like the groups you could join. SFC:OP is cooler, just because the Dynaverse idea was taken further and the ship selection and race selection was wider.
Really wish they had included an option to ONLY allow 'built' ships in the campaign and pick missions based on which ships were actually in each sector with which mission. (IE., a true dynamic campaign)
Still, it's cool.
Not half as cool as SFB, though.
Seriously, to all of you who played the SFC series and thought these games were pretty cool - YOU MUST GO BUY SFB! You're already familiar with the game mechanics, and if you thought you could do a lot with your starships in SFC (compared to other space or RTS games)...you ain't seen *nothin* yet!
Besides, the SFB Kzinti are just cooler than the SFC 'Mirak'.

And you'll never convince me the SFC Fed DN is half as cool as the SFB Fed DN: