Oh, You'd have the Trade Federation's alliance with the Confederacy of Independent Systems -- the Empire -- to thank for the neglect of the Outer Rim. They laid those trade routes because none of you were of any interest to them. It was long ago for you, but not for all of us.
Do correct me if I'm wrong, I don't have all that many resources at my disposal for events that happened decades after my death, but I was under the impression that you believed the Core Worlds and the New Republic to be, quite intentionally, ignoring the lot of you?