[Puke]

interesting, this sort of fits in with the organics based economics model from my old GritTech mod, and the more recent (and actually complete & published) Grit-Econ mod.

Just working off the numbers that you quoted (sure, they can be lowered) I think thats too much profit. Rather than lowering them much, I think it would be better to actually make the empire pay for the mineral cost of the ship. That way, you would have to produce enough resources (could still have a 1 turn build rate) to make it worth building the freighter in the first place.

Also, it may be good if the launch pad generated resources. That way, you would be incented to place a mineral launch pad on a high mineral planet. you would be incended to place a radioactives launch pad on a high radioactives planet.