Command stars are not the point, the way the AI expands without the Eleutheroi building infrastructure and troops is unrealistically fast, plus if they build stuff (mines, roads, ports) when you take over their cities they'll already have useful stuff built although they'll be harder to take.
The large number of command stars are needed to balance the same AI expansion and they're not so great the morale bonuses are better don't envy the other guys' stars.
Remember the Eleutheroi are not just "rebels" or "slaves" the are all the great tribes and free cities that did not make it as a playable faction so they are important.