I think I know what you mean about the paying thing, chronus, but that was a one-time idea and it was to "make donations", not that you'd have to actually pay for the game!
The reason for it is exactly as horadrim says. We don't wanna be sued for profiting from other people's stuff. (I doubt you would either, so I think you understand.
)
I haven't got a clue what C + C is like, never played it. Horadrim is also right on this count, the game is turn based.
You send your ships in, and you either take over the system or your fleet gets obliterated. Simple as that.
There won't be any taking over individual planets, only systems, and if you go into tactical combat in a system, any (Active) orbital batteries will take part in the combat. (One of the improvements over BOTF
)
I don't know where you heard the ideas from either, but I hope we've straightened things out for you.
Anything else you don't understand/like, then post, post, post!
Welcome to the site by the way.
