We have already designed a base concept for fleshing out Insanity and the presence of Them in the game, and we are now looking to compose a new concept featured around creating new uses for less used content; and branching out into fields of science the game neglects.
In a game like this, little used content is one of the worst things you can find. If something only has one practical thing it can be turned into then when you want that thing; you have to go looking for the specific resource. But if you find that resource naturally, it greatly diminishes how interesting and diverse the experience is when you find out this unique resource you discovered has barely any use. The more niche everything is, the more of a routine the game becomes instead of a real experience.
Any suggestions would be useful from experienced players on items that do not receive much all-around use in the game. Ice, moon rocks, gears. Things that have more specific uses and thus end up being neglected potentially after that use has been fulfilled; or while people are saving up.