Later it will turn out that I actually publish books about expansions, live in America, and have millions of $ in the bank as a result.
Is it optional, really optional? Or will it later turn out that those who wrote will get more advantages in terms of rewards? Because if it's just "good job, you wrote it all out nicely" — then I don't care. But if it's "good job, here's +1 prestige/stat bonus/gear/sith concubine" — then that's a different story.
There will only be prestige there; the presence or absence of these countries won't affect anything. I don't recommend the sith concubines, by the way.