Ira Steven Behr is extremely proud of this episode and considers it to be one of the most important early episodes in establishing the darker Star Trek ideology for which Deep Space Nine would become famous.
Dukat's line that "on Cardassia, the verdict is always known before the trial begins" became the basis for the courtroom drama Tribunal (1994) a few episodes later.
A line cut from the episode stated that Hudson and Sisko had once played dom-jot on Pelios Station against two Zakdorn on the suggestion of Curzon Dax. The two Starfleet officers clearly lost and Curzon told them that he had placed a high bet on the Zakdorn.
Referenced Rules of Acquisition: #3 ("Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to")
This is the first episode to introduce some ambiguity in relation to the character of Gul Dukat.