Well that is one method of doing it...personally, I make the minors worship my Star Empire, but I wait ages before actually letting them join.
That way, they have an almost fully developed system, they may have their own fleets, and they might even start a war
for me!
I don't have to needlessly waste my Centurions on costly strikes when I can get others to do it for me...
That's how the Star Empire works, afterall...
...
I've never really bothered with the Ferengi to tell you the truth. I usually leave them there to mind their own business. (No pun intended)
By the end of the games that I play, they are usually the only race that is worth fighting anyway. They always try to run, making ideal target practice, or they test out my defences (Which is always a good thing when the Borg are around)
It doesn't matter though, i've modded the Borg to make them as tough as a pussy cat...
_________________"Anyone without a sense of humour is truly at the mercy of the rest of us."