[...] It looks like other people also enjoy the IBB boss ships, maybe it's a sign that there is an unexplored so far demand for interesting, quirky, unusual ships. Maybe there's a potential for mods containing just IBB fleets, I'd love it if they'd catch on. [...]
Firstly I'd say it's hardly "unexplored": many mods add rare super ships that often twist the game's rules: Imaginos, Morpheus, Excelcior, Maximus, Versant, Unsung, Stymphalian Bird etc. And a fair few mods add their own IBB fleets: Shadowyard, Imperium, Templars, Junk Pirats, ASP, Tiandong, Diable (soon)... If that trend continue, having standard ships will soon become the exception and every player will only fly unique/rare ships.
I've never seen those ships you mention in my game despite doing quite a few long campaigns, as opposed to IBB ships which immediately caught my attention. I know faction mods add IBB fleets and I love it, what I meant was mods that would add just IBB fleets but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just that the IBB bounties are my new favourite feature and obviously I'd like more of them.
As for saying that players would want just IBB fleets, I think you may be exaggerating a bit. I feel that what players want is that something special, custom tailored, unexpected and exotic, exactly what IBB fleets are, with capturable IBB flagships being a cherry on top of that delicious pie.
I seriously doubt players want those ships because they are overpowered. I want them because they add colour and diversity and if internet taught me something at all is that I'm quite average and share opinions and tastes with majority of people, so I assume the majority of others also want just colour and diversity.
I'm not sure why your first instinct to players having tremendous fun with something is immedialy coming up with an idea to limit that fun.
