1/3rd less pops and -1 research pool is absolutely killer. Start with resource deficits and on average 50% of the time you could have chosen a better tech if you had 3 picks instead of 2, which is incredibly harmful even if you overcome the initial economic problems. I haven't seen anything useful that really counteracts these penalties, I've gotten 2 meh techs from the haven planet and refused another 2 that would have had huge economic penalties attached. Interaction aside from these random events seems to have stopped, they've complained every time I've done something new like join the Galactic Community or a Federation.
Does it ever pay off? I was kind of hoping that there would be some event after a few decades where the pre-FTL planet would join you and some of the penalties would be eased. But 70 years in and that hasn't happened.
Does it ever pay off? I was kind of hoping that there would be some event after a few decades where the pre-FTL planet would join you and some of the penalties would be eased. But 70 years in and that hasn't happened.