[Commander G]

If seekers are changed to use the ToHit percentage, they should also get a better chance to hit than most weapons. But I agree, ECMs and Ship Defense Racial Modifiers should come into play.

I myself prefer to research Point Defenses in PBEM games early because Missles are very potent at that stage. I recently won a battle in a PBEM game with two missle Frigates (two missles, one PD) against two UR cannon Frigates (3 UR cannon IIs) and decisively won. I ended up non needing the point defense, because he did not employ missles. However, if he would have used missles without Point Defense he would have lost as well. The simple fact is that missles are very powerful in the early game and point defense are critical unless you can get your enemy to agree to not use missles.

FYI: Those Point Defense are also useful against Satelites and Fighters, which missles cannot target.

If you have point defense and your enemy does not, he has to research point defenses as well to fight you!