Trade Starbases - Can get +50% Immediately, but no more later?

from Stardock Forums
Why is it that you can get a starbase up to +50% trade immediately at the start of the game, but you don't get any further upgrades later? For example, you don't get a "Phase III Factory" until the mid-game. Every other starbase ability can be improved more as the game progresses.

Why don't more starbase trade upgrade become available later? (Other than the obvious answer: because the game is written that way.)
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Perhaps its a little oversight - or perhaps it's just realism (a starbase can only have so much focus on trading... )

As trading technology advances, there are improvements to the number of trade routes or improvements to income for each traderoute per turn (+10%).

The trade modules aren't exactly too powerful either - they only give a boost when the mini-freighter is within the same sector as the trading station.

You're welcome to add additional modules if you want - it's just that they would seem a bit redundant. You may wish to build multiple trading stations instead to get a stronger economy bonus.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I like to think of it as a positive thing. Lord knows I go insane trying to make sure that every single one of my starbases
a: has all the available resource mining upgrades, no easy task given the rate at which I get techs later in the game.

b: is defended

c: has all the relevant upgrades -is it in a trade route (mine or the computer's)? Would a ship repair module help? How about defense? Should I finally build a +attack module (I NEVER have)? etc-.
Galactic Civilizations IV