Why does the Grand Nagus travel by shuttle?

[The Overlord]

He didn't become rich and powerful by blowing his money on gaudy ships.

Plenty of rich people spend money on gaudy things and they still are among the wealthiest people in the world. What is the point of money if you never spend it? Rich people often seek superior status over others, by buying opulent things. The Ferengi hoarding money like Scourge McDuck makes them seem silly, it makes the comparison between them and modern capitalists less plausible.

Also Zek did get kidnapped in "The Emperor's New Cloak" so clearly security was an issue. Heck, from what have seen in various Star Trek shows, Federation starships seemed to be attacked by random aliens all the time, it would make sense that most of the same dangers apply to a Ferengi starship. In Realm of fear, I believe it was mentioned that a Cardassian warship was attacking Ferengi ships.

Now regarding the Ferengi's supposed neutrality, this attitude seems to be contradicted by TNG episodes like "Peak Performance" where a Ferengi starship decided to pick a fight with the Enterprise for no real reason.

 

[Marten]

It could just be cheaper.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Perhaps the Nagus wants to 'hide in plain sight', as it were. Enemies would never expect a major head of state to travel on a small shuttle, so they wouldn't even think to attack it. They would expect a huge starship, not a shuttle.

And in the end, why would the Ferengi be a target for attack anyway? Everyone does business with them, so the Ferengi are as close to truly neutral as you can get.

 

[The Overlord]

Perhaps the Nagus wants to 'hide in plain sight', as it were. Enemies would never expect a major head of state to travel on a small shuttle, so they wouldn't even think to attack it. They would expect a huge starship, not a shuttle.

And in the end, why would the Ferengi be a target for attack anyway? Everyone does business with them, so the Ferengi are as close to truly neutral as you can get.

Because the Star Trek universe seems to be filled with aliens and monsters who attack people for no reason. Heck, space pirates could kidnap the Negus and hold him for ransom.

 

[Timo]

If the Nagus really were concerned about his personal safety and security, he'd stay off any sort of big targets such as capital ships - the only workable tactic against assassinations and the like would be to travel in "motorcade" comprising a great number of identical vessels, ready to disperse the moment the assassins destroy the one they think is carrying the Nagus. After all, given the Trek technologies, it would be impossible to prevent the destruction, or to predict it: a well-prepared ambush will always have insanely high odds of success, thanks to an endless supply of superweapons and odd alien tricks.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Because the Star Trek universe seems to be filled with aliens and monsters who attack people for no reason. Heck, space pirates could kidnap the Negus and hold him for ransom.

For some reason I doubt that tactic would work on the Ferengi. There's got to be a hundred wannabe-Naguses (Nagi?) who would instantly clamor for the job if the Nagus was kidnapped or killed. Like most positions of authority in Ferengi culture, it's probably easily replaceable.

To think that the Ferengi would actually negotiate for the release of a kidnapped Nagus would imply that they actually care about what happens to him and that he is a person of unique value. Do such things even exist in Ferengi society, where everything is for sale - even emotional attachments?

 

[Sindatur]

Because the Star Trek universe seems to be filled with aliens and monsters who attack people for no reason. Heck, space pirates could kidnap the Negus and hold him for ransom.

For some reason I doubt that tactic would work on the Ferengi. There's got to be a hundred wannabe-Naguses (Nagi?) who would instantly clamor for the job if the Nagus was kidnapped or killed. Like most positions of authority in Ferengi culture, it's probably easily replaceable.

To think that the Ferengi would actually negotiate for the release of a kidnapped Nagus would imply that they actually care about what happens to him and that he is a person of unique value. Do such things even exist in Ferengi society, where everything is for sale - even emotional attachments?

While it's true, if the position was vacated through death or whatever, there would be one million and one Ferengi stepping up fighting for the position, it's also true they do value the Nagus, since he is the CEO running things the way they are currently so profitable. So, yea, if it cost a few bricks of Gold pressed pressed Latinum to get the Nagus back, so he could continue providing them Profit Opportunities and helping them be profitable, I think they absolutely would pay for it (and of course, be sure to let the Nagus know how much it cost them, and expect to be rewarded with comparable Profit opportunities to recover that profit)

 

[Timo]

...Of course, it might still be cheaper to pay the ransom than pay for the protection.

Timo Saloniemi