No. With the current data (for version 2.04), the Terrans get the better HP module. The Integrity Grid is smaller than the Organic Hull Plating for all hull sizes except Huge hulls (the largest size available). Once you are using Huge hulls, they are equal. I'm quite sure as I have the numbers on spread sheets, and I have made a number of tests to make sure they are accurate.

Edit: By the ways, the size change of 1 (which is used by the Integrity Grid) only leads to a size increase with Huge hulls. For all other sizes, it might as well be 0.

80 turns??? that seems quite long to me

and actually the L2 fac will only reduce the maint from 15-->10 it doens't add any MP at all, if you can support it then you can be fine with L1. And as you cant build any farms you should go for market centers naturally so you will be able to support it.

Problems I see with Thalans is when you don't have a strong initial planet, because the Colony Rush can only really be driven by their Hyperion Matrix. So the option is find one where you can build a slow small hull colony every turn or a fast cargo hull colony every other turn right immediately and then you can be pretty competitive.

If not you *have* to research these L1 facs which will delay everything (in some setups waiting 8 turns will mean you won't get any additional planets at all) 

Thank you for the responses.  I'm learning a bit.

But: 

How do you manage your early game economy? Do you do it like me, where I crash my econ as quickly as possible, setting up the fastest number of colonies possible, and then setting the spending and tax slider as low as possible (for 100% approval in the newer colonies) and wait for pop to recover?

Or do you do it another way?

Given the way I play, Torian tech and Super-breeder is probably the best combo.  Harvesters bring a +4 bil pop to econ from 8 to 12 (though yes, they do cost 2 bcs in maintenance- wrong about that) and central mines and temples of memory boost morale and production for your new colonies.  The fact that you get these buildings without having to research anything means that you don't have to focus much on research in the early game.  You also don't need farming until much, much later in the game.  

But if your playstyle is different, then I can see why the other tech trees are good.  But... when I try the same strat with another races' tech paths (even with super-breeder), it doesn't work as well in part because I can't get to 12 bil pop/good production quickly in all my new colonies.  

What do you do in the early game? Also, what map sizes do you play? I prefer larger maps with abundant numbers of systems and planets. 

What I'm going to say about torian tech tree is that at the start of the game it is well balanced. The Terrans R also well balanced the one  thing I have to say about the Central mine is this U can only build one per planet. So if your the Yor for instance U can build more factories at the beginning and have a bigger industrial base. There R other races  with more factory capability at the beginning. The Temple of memories is not worth it build Entertaunment network instead and research Healing pools more resanoble quick and upgrade to Healing pools is a better move. I almost want to make the Super breeder as the number one personality of the game. The reason I would not play the Torians is they R the only race that compete against the Thalans unless U know how to modify the Korath clan. Its hard to keep a competive Ai.  One of the things people forget is that the Yor R the Silons or the Darlecks tha is the important part I'm actually glad the tech trees R not just renamed knock offs of each other like sins of a solar empire each tech tree is different that is what U have to take into account I'm not going to recap the good stratedgies of everyone else I would like to say instead of having empty spaces U could just lower production lets not forget about economy starbases influence affects tourism which brings in money so influence starbases R a good idea population growth is the best answer I'm going to add a freighter stratedgy after the colony rush research trade build constructors send them to the nearest planet thats not yours this will quickly build U a little income after that U can re search more trade techs after U fill all the routs design new constructors with better range fast ships will help U also if U need to research the techs do that send the freighters as far away as possible when they get there the game will tell U that U cant have more trade routs discontinue the least profitable route I recommend that U should look at only the second number then trade with the far away planet do this for all the routs this is not to compete with the other stradegies but to add to what is being said. These R good stratedgies I cant give better advice instead of comparing techtrees enjoy the different races the one thing I would say if U pick this race U would not hinder how good the Ai is. Also remember U will do good to have a population up to 20 billion per planet after this more population will actually hinder U . I've had my races total population above 2 trillion. So the cap is higher