is it just me or is steering your ship exceedingly slow compared to something like freespace 2?

There must be a setting I have missed, but pirates are flying past me at Mach 2, I crank the joystick all the way over to follow, and it takes an eternity to catch up.

I have the sensitivity dialed all the way up and there is no difference. :(

I deleted this. It really was not relevant.

This is old but I ran across it while looking for something else.

Upgrading your wings improves agility (turn rate) and acceleration, and carrying cargo dramatically decreases agility, acceleration, and max speed. I'm not sure, but hull upgrades might lower agility, since they boost mass (but I don't think they do).

Engine upgrades boost your ability to carry cargo (that is, they decrease the penalties), but the main role is increasing recharge rates - your afterburner will recharge faster, which lets you spend more time at boost speed.

I upgrade my wings first [only, actually], 'cause having a speedy, turn-on-a-dime ship is just so much more pleasant. And I prefer direct-fire dogfighting to turrets anyway. :-)