Does Starfleet have to stop other powers First Contact?

My impression was that as soon as anyone in a particular civilisation discovers warp drive, that civilisation is regarded as 'on the map', so to speak. That pretty well signals that it'll only be a few short years before they're careening around the quadrant in their little tin cans, calling attention to themselves, possibly crossing the borders of hostile powers, etc, it's arguably necessary for their protection.

 

It's difficult to see why Starfleet would. If the prime directive indeed doesn't apply to non-Starfleet individuals, then there would not be any restrictions on sending out missions to various worlds, pre-warp as well as post-warp.

The primitive (let's just use that word) planets are probably all around, wrapped around, the more advanced planets. Out of every 100 planets with intelligent lifeforms, maybe 99 are primitive.

So, it wouldn't be a matter of traveling away from the core systems. The primitive planets are intermixed with them.

Native: You appeared out of mid air, are you gods?
Missionary: No, that's just how we travel long distances.

Native: Sister Kimiko cut her arm badly last badly and didn't die, is this magic?
Missionary: No, she washed it with soap. You get some animal fat from yesterday meal, I'll get some ashes, and I show you how to make soap. Later I'll show you how to make candles.

 

I would assume that a lot of humans would end up as war refugees during the Dominion War. I don't see why not.