Yea calling it a border was a little risky, knowing that a lot of people would correct me and say "it's the extent of your influence", but they just look like borders don't they? I actually expected there to be a patrol feature the first time i played and was surprised when i found it is not so.
No patrols. This is a game. You are supposed to play it. Too much automation and you might as well be watching a movie.
Your opinion, fine, but i ask, do you use Rally Points/Auto-Upgrade? I assume not since this would be "too much automation".
Just think about the possibilities, your at war with the Drengin, you have 3 resources which are way out of your influence/sensor range and more than 1 sector away from each other, and, your a little underpowered and can't spare the ships to guard them all. So you select the "Patrol & Attack" feature and have your ship/fleet run between these stations looking for enemy ships to attack. As apposed to having multiple ships out there guarding each station.
but then I would have to actually be able to play a complete game to really enjoy the feature, ahem... sarcasm, hint, hint!
I take ES that you have found the great new feature that the devs put in called "crash machine randomly so no one can finish a game in a timely fashion".
Wow lucky you!