That's the easy part, it is deliberate. The Imperium maintain a wealth and economy gradiant by not developing all worlds to TL15.
Why use the word conceit rather than concept - I have noticed this over the last few years.
Conceit to me has always had a negative meaning:
1. the state of being too proud of yourself and your actions: 2. a clever or…
dictionary.cambridge.org
The small crew size on starships indicate to me that the ship is itself only one step removed from a robot.
People try to make it look like it is today, the folks at GURPS used economic models that don't really fir the setting.
The reality of trade in the 57th century will be very different.
Which is why we got the PC mini game and not the movement of RUs between worlds...