Got this. Started playing Poland, formed Commonwealth, I'm now halfway through the game and not only from sea to sea and colonizing Africa (wonders of fleet basing rights), but also from Berlin to Moscow, almost literally (Moscow is still Muscovy capital, so I can't take it), and I start to realize what you mean about coalitions. I have Ottomans, Muscovy, Novogrod, Hungary, Austria, Bohemia (who is Emperor), huge Denmark (ruling over all Scandinavia) and a bunch of German semi-minors all against me. And some African country neighboring my colonies. It is so frustrating to fight Ottomans for five years just to get one little province from Pommerania...
Oh well. The first thing I have noticed, though, was the fact that all non-major nations have the same set of National ideas, which, by the way, suck. So my idea was born - I want to create a set of National idea groups, geographically based, that could be used with your game to make playing minors more interesting. Also, to make it viable to fit into any mod created, to make other's lives easier. So if you have any idea for an idea, especially in less popular regions of the world (for example, I know close to nothing about India), you can drop me a hint (as a private message, preferably), and I will soon start little modding. Maybe with German or Italian ideas for minors from those regions?
If it will go well, I will probably take this to separate thread or something, before unleashing it on the Paradox forums or something. Never liked those Paradox forums, by the way.