Two things: One, wars aren't necessarily total wars. Remember, right now all civilian traffic is basically ignored by military fleets. That could honestly use /some/ work (yeah, go ahead CV, build that HOP defense platform in Second Contact, we don't have a problem...

) but just having war won't mean your stuff will get wiped out like it was in X3.
Another is that there are some people like me that while, yes, I do love the economic side, I also love the fleet combat aspect and fighting and all that. Was it ever the most effective or cost-efficient? Heck no. Was it fun as hell? You bet.
Finally, there are tons of areas for all factions that aren't on the Loop that will take a long time for war to progress to. Will it slow down any economic engine? Heck yeah. But if you want to build closer to the transit ways, you'll have to be able to defend your turf when people use those transit ways against you.
Honestly, I'd just like more variety in combat missions more than anything else. Right now it's mostly static defense deployment/destruction or some variant of assassination (kill ship, capture ship, shoot ship until they drop cargo). It'd be nice to see some station defense. Or just straight up escort missions. Yes, I'm asking for ESCORT MISSIONS. That's how dry the variety is right now. Maybe if the AI decides HOP is pushing, War Combat Missions should spawn for that sector. I don't know. Something.
Also, as I was writing this repatomonor posted about diplomacy and stuff, and I love it. Especially since 3.0 actually wants to put more in the way of making your own faction and having faction diplomacy w/ the major factions, if they also used that system between each other that would be cool. Especially if missions were generated based on these situations! HOP is trying to make peace with PAR but stay at war with ARG and ANT? Maybe a little black op mission should be offered... while PAR and HOP should be offering missions to help defend!