Despite achieving the rank of Commander in the final TNG season, I feel like Dianna would be terrible at said roll/manning the bridge. Also, why the hell isn't data that rank? Shouldn't he be able to pass such a test to gain full commander rank like that really easily? Or does he not, because doing so would somehow mean he would be stationed on another ship? If that's the reason, it seems dumb that the ship's councelor or Dr (despite my belief that Beverly would be/is a good commander/bridge officer) can be a commander, yet remain on the same ship, the excuse being "oh, well it's not their real job though, so it's ok."

Also, on an unrelated note, The Prime Directive in is kinda bullshit. I mean, the idea that just because interference with a culture/planet COULD lead to exploitation/harm means no interference should EVER be taken, even when it would do only good, is a stupid absolute. It absolves the crew/captain/federation of the work of case by case ethical interrogation of situations and alien interactions by the alternative of wholesale negligence to other's plights under the guise of an unbreakable rule.

(I only just recently finished TNG and started DS9, so sorry if either of these things are addressed in later ST media)