I am a more casual player who dislikes complexity for complexity's sake.
I loathe CR, and still do. Ships other than my max Combat 100% CR flagship break down too fast unless I game the system (i.e., never retreat, deploy all ships then stand down to cause less pain to all ships, etc.)
Tankers and freighters are part of the game, but they should not be always required for optimal play. Best for a specific task, fine. Required for basic, everyday functions, painful. As for loot, if I want to take enough supplies to earn a profit, I need freighters. I have tried taking stuff of most value and leaving junk weapons before, but the loot is simply too much unless I have multiple freighters. Before 0.6, a few multirole ships like Mule, Venture, Apogee, or Odyssey would have been enough. Now, I need at least an Atlas or three.
AI is weak because it does not learn. After a minute or more of continuous circle-strafing, one would think even a green gunner would begin to adjust or randomize his aim, but the AI does not even try. This makes the AI extremely predictable and vulnerable. I do not ask for perfect aim unless I have Gunnery Implants 10, but I expect the AI to try something different after a period of obvious failure, even if it is as simple as firing a random, wildly (un)aimed shot.
Fuel can be fun in combat, if used as improvised bombs or fuel for enhanced ship explosions.