I was thinking something along the lines of (showing my age here) Privateer. I've played Freelancer and while I did enjoy it I thought it was about average - it did what it said on the tin, unlike, say, Witcher 3 which despite the hype surrounding the game (I was a late adopter) still blew me away.
I'm aware of the controversy surrounding Star Citizen so I'm staying away from it for now. I almost contributed on Kickstarter but for some reason never got around to it.
Which is why I'm looking at games like the X series, Elite and so on. The only hesitation I have, based on my readings, is the steep learning curve and time needed to play.
As for Star Citizen: Despite horror stories, I can only suggest to make up your own mind and despite other implications, never try to project bad aspects onto an overall community where it is implied basically everyone is bad. There's surely vocal defenders and controversies depending on your view point. But then I simple suggest to not back or take part in a game when you are not completely sure or confident, and wait for more progress. The game, with all that is intended, is likely still years away to get near completion, but the game itself makes notable steps each year in terms of progression.
As for X4 or any X game: Do not fret. It's not like you have to start such games as "Mogul" or Entrepeneur or something. You can make a career as Freelancer, take odd jobs, work for a faction, do police work, hunt pirates, smuggle goods, be a pirate (or smuggler), be a bounty hunter, etc. Or you simple ship goods or tourists from A to B.
Chances are you need to do some odd jobs to gain money for bigger things in the first place, so you can "learn as you play" if that makes sense. Although once you try to start a company or start owning factories, you really need to think about where you place what.
When I started I usually focused on cheaper factories that are part of a basic production chain: Solar power plants or ore mines for example. People in the universe always need power and also do need ores to produce more things from. And those are among the cheaper factories to buy and easier ones to begin with.
So then you have to think: Where do you play your power plant or mine? Mines usually need an asteroid where you can put them into, unless you decide you mine yourself with a ship. So then you have to look where asteroid fields are and in turn scan them for a good yield. Power plants are less bound to stellar objects, but even then you have to ask yourself: Where do I place it?
Placing it in a system with 5 other power plants is... frankly, stupid. Placing a power plant in a system where no others are close, however, will force other factories and companies to buy at your place instead if you're way closer and thus faster to reach. Maybe you can even go up with the price in turn. Those are just few examples on how you have to think economically once you 'start a business' in the X games.
You can later also create whole connected mega-stations or factories that are completely or partially self-sufficient.
It's really crazy how wild you can go. The game would be even better if it had limited COOP or ground-components with planets, but that's likely too much to ask for.
And never forget: Once you start playing you can always look for tips on the internet on how other people do it. You will see an old X fan-base pick up X4 and provide tutorials and whatnot once it launches.
Long story short, if you truly want a space (and economic or military empire) building sim, you should not fret in terms of X4. Getting into it will be relatively managable. But mastering it, now there's the big reward. I really look forward to the more dynamic reaction system to see how borders and influences of factions likely change.
I wonder if someone manages to conquer the whole X-universe if that is even possible.