The standard equidistant home system maps, are the most fair, but do not give rise to any additional strategy. In essense, you just keep growing outwards from your home system and keep clearing enemies away.
However, previously we used to have a bit of variability and open spaces. It become strategic in terms of who you would NAP (i.e. a family close to you), in order to secure second outposts etc. Take a look a this old example of a map:
We previously also used to have unique formats, which introduced even more variability:
Obviously cannot have that many systems, and maybe not so big a map with the # of fams and players we have today. But slight changes like this, will keep things varied and make for interesting gameplay, imo.
Especially when you can couple in future with ideas like a Fog of War or something!