I liked they way the ship-body could also be used. Since it’s not your primary objective (since that’s protecting the other thing) there’s no game design reason why you’d have it be vulnerable, except added challenge … but this way is more fun to me.
I did miss a score when I didn’t make it the first few times. Another thing that would be neat to add is a dash-move of some kind. Maybe that would help replayability as well, since now you’re just sort of … done when you reach the exit.