The old cores of planetesimals should be common in very system; more so if there's more of a disturbance in the gravity-well like in AC3. It's easier to mine an asteroid like 16 Pysche than to mine a terrestrial-world. Battletech should be mineral-rich (and also water-rich, as we're discovering water is very, very abundant).
Earthbound companies aren’t typically threatened by lack of oxygen, lack of water, threats of starvation, catastrophic decompression. Rival corporations have been known to dynamite each others’ assets here on the ground, literally and figuratively. Destruction up there is far easier to accomplish.
“May you live in interesting times.” - Chinese proverb
Interesting times have found us.
Interesting for a few seconds until the air runs out; to quote Pondsmith's (Deep-Space) concept of, "ARG", Atmosphere, Radiation and Gravity, because if you don't respect those, "ARG", is the last thing you'll say.
Really, there are two schools of thought:
1. "There's enough wealth for everyone to equally gouge and control the markets."
2. "The asteroid is mine: Go #$%& yourself."