Two timelines will add flexibility to the game. Two timelines won't affect the game's popularity. An extra timeline is a Bad Thing. This will doom Traveller. Life support is expensive and difficult to work on.
Life support is a fraction of the cost published.
Piracy exists and is rampant. Anyone may commit piracy. Ship tracking and ID are uncommon. Antipiracy is mostly political or economic, and is inadequate. Transponders may be changed or masked, or are not widespread or sufficient.