Changes to Machine Empires Nerf or not?

[Chthon]

I'm confused about the changes to machine empires. Clearly they needed help, but did they just get a buff or a nerf?

On one hand we get a few jobs from Nexus Districts now, but is that actually worth something? We lost the building that was associated with those jobs now too.

 

[Norrell]

Seems like a wash without a lot of effect. The amenities building giving benefits without needing workers is a small buff, and makes it look really similar to luxury housing. Maintenance drones going from providing 5 amenities down to 4 puts them more on par with clerks, which may or may not be a good thing for overall balance.

The generic ME advantages of having no consumer goods economy and 100% habitability still seem underpowered against organics' trade and faster, no-cost pop growth. And the fact that mindless robot drones in a gestalt machine empire use more housing than mindless and/or enslaved droids in organic empires will always bother me.

 

[Chthon]

Bender only needed a 2x2 room, he didn't even use his closet.