I think it would be neat to be able to buy add-ons to your colony. For example, buying a refrigerator that would diminish your food spoilage, or reinforced foundations to protect against a planetquake. They would be very expensive, of course, but would help players customize their strategies.
I'm seeing the same problem still today. Three games shown as "open" and at "Round 0 of 12" but I cannot join any of them because they are actually in progress.