Wow! Rule number 7 is one I was NOT aware of - and hadn't really considered, because I figured that all of the reb's were independant. Potentially it is a biggie, too (provided the rebel prov's have ports - because if they don't, they wouldn't trade anyway, right?). So tumbling 1 tiny little rebel prov could suddenly get you locked out of a whole heap of the map....that is food for thought.