GOG's winter sale should start either this week or next.

Well, I see a game that wasnt mentioned at all(maybe because its a mobile port but hell with it):

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD - the thing in combat is that you can cheese your way in combat by strafing.

Track down a copy of the game Terminus. Basically a space-faring RPG.

I wouldn't really recommend Star Citizen yet for anyone, as it still too heavily in production, being in pre-alpha an all. Get it only if you can handle seeing how a game of ambitious goals is being developed.

Elite Dangerous is pretty good, despite it does get a lot of unnecessary flak if you ask me. But you do need to be prepared for a game that has no real plot.

I haven't played Warlords, obviously, but I have played the others.

They are each quite different in how I play them, for example in Rebel Galaxy I play as a bounty hunter so I see lots of combat, whereas in Elite Dangerous my gameplay is more or less exclusively based on trading, and No Man's Sky is there for me to just chill-out, build stuff end explore. So what I get out from each game is very different.

As a whole package though my choice would be Starpoint Gemini 2, it's got a storyline with a sense of adventure to it, trading, and plenty of immersion. It's the only game on your list that I think has a 'strong story', especially when compared to Rebel Galaxy, Elite Dangerous and No Man's Sky. X-Rebirth has plenty of lore behind it, but it's not as "noticeable" as in Starpoint Gemini 2.

If you don't mind Steam you could also check out Galaxy on Fire 2 as well.

This goes for x3 as well...

Unless you are the type of person who likes to mindless click trade on some webpage game
Just back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth...

Those games are not for you.
Sure there is great simulation game hidden someone under the crap
The battles look amazing (play is aweful) the freedom is exciting (freedom to click trade)

There is reason no one lets plays the games... no one.

Freelancer is action pack with story

x3/xrebirth will put you to sleep and the combat is boring as ...either you overpower your enemy or they over power you.

X Rebirth is actually not that bad (4.0 at least). And it's huge. But travel is also cumbersome using the space lanes. And then there is the one ship limitation. Still I enjoyed it as a nice change. X3 Albion Prelude with the TC plots mod is still the best X experience though.