I know that you unlock human ships as you gain levels, but what is the point of gaining additional levels after unlocking all visible ships (level 24 IIRC)? Does it actually affect the game in some other way? Was it so that if additional ships were released (not seeming likely at this point) you'd be high enough level to unlock them immediately?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can definitively answer what effect levels have on the gameplay, other than unlocking visible human ships (if any).