Switching from X2 to I-war2

I’ve been playing X2 for the better part of a year now and I’m tired of it for a few reasons:
1. the economy and factory building/managing is tedious
2. the sectors are small and unrealistic, and ships and weapons aren’t fast enough
3. the physics… or lack thereof.

I’m thinking about starting up an I-War2 game (and I’ve never played any other I-War, or X series game for that matter). My question to experienced I-war folk is this:

1. How open-ended is this game? I liked X2 because it didn’t really ever end, and I could do what I wanted. Does I-war have this flexibility and freedom?

2. Is there a sense of ownership, not just in my personal ship, but in a small fleet of ships and/or stations?

3. Does the game allow the player to take on different roles? i.e. merchant/trader, pirate, government agent/police

4. How dynamic is the universe? Can I alter it? Are NPC ships always the same with the same equip? If I kill and/or loot it, what happens to the ship? Is it replaced? Identically?

5. If there is a plot with scripted missions for me to follow, is the game over when I reach the end?

6. How smart is the enemy?

I appreciate any help you can give me, as it may convert me into a new I-war believer.

thanks

/eric