In discussion with another player, and idea came up about trading resources instead of just buying and selling for gold.
For those folks starting out and trying to work their way to high knight, and all the research involved, this would be a way to get resources and use the gold for research.
As I see it, since the prices are fixed by the market. It would be a simple matter to add another tab for trading. When you click on the trade tab, the interface would look the same as buying except it would have one extra column that would be marked with a T indicating this player will trade. If so, then there would be trade button added beside the buy button and clicking the trade button would pop up a window showing what other resources the player will take. The interface would then calculate what the ratio would be in other resources, based on gold value for that specific resource, and let you know what it would take in other resources to make the trade. If you have the calculated resources the player will accept, then simply click the trade button next to the resource you will send him and the trade is made and takes the same amount of time to deliver as if buying.
On the sell page, add a button for trade option and check boxes for what you will accept in trade.
Might be a little more complex than that but I think it could work and work well.
Lead or Follow, I don't care which, just stay out of my way!