I think I have a way to play star salvage that will slow progression and increase the difficulty a bit.

My idea is to start a new playthrough but limit construction to consumables and cores.
By consumables I mean things like ammo, meds food and fuel.

Everything else must be salvaged, basically aside from cores no blocks can be built and must be found and salvaged.

It will make shields for SVs hard to be btain but not impossible.
I think one of the non story starts would be best for this type of playthrough as starter systems won't have most of the devices present for combat (unless you like unshielded fights with gats).