A couple of things for merchants
2) Flying water to Pittsburg from Manhattan will double your money
3) Flying boron back gives some nice profits too, but you'll get hit by lanehackers a lot
4) When being pursued, or when just flying between objectives in open space (not using trade lanes, cruise drive etc.)
a) Engage cruise drive
b) Cut engines (Z button by default)
c) Turn ship 180 degrees and rely on inertia
d) Congratulations. You are now a cruise driving weapons platform with 8 guns that can fire in any direction and flies at a speed of 300 hehe
Oh yeah, and it also works with afterburner I find it way more useful for outrunning people than just engaging cruise, which leaves you unable to fire back.