[Aloofi]

Originally posted by PsychoTechFreak:
[QBUpgrade Facility Cost Percent := 50

Hmm, I mean this is ok for let's say research center 1 to upgrade to research center 3. With the extremely larger differences between e.g. minor city and metropolis or higher it looks like ... cheating? But it is OK, if there are good reasons or other restrictions that I do not see yet.[/QB]

I think its kind of right.
Settlement: 5Kt of each resource
Col. Commun: 10 Kt of each
With 50 % upgrade it takes exactly the same time to build one colonial community than to build a settlement and then upgrade.

On the other hand, the investment return is far better on the lowly settlement than in the Colonial Comm.
Settlement cost: 5000 min.
Settlement prod: 125 min.
Returns investment in 40 turns (4 years)

colonial comm cost: 10 000 min.
colonial comm prod: 150 min.
Returns investment in 66 turns (6 years and 6 months)

Minor city cost: 15 000 min.
Minor city Prod: 175 min.
Returns investment in 85 turns (8 years and a half)

So its obvious that is better to build all the settlements you want first, and then start upgrading.
Still, building cities should be considered something like a personal goal or a show of power. Their output doesn't justifie their cost when you compare them to a mineral miner facility:

Mineral Miner I facility cost: 1800 min.
Mineral Miner I facility prod: 200 min.
Returns investment in 9 turns (9 months) and produce more than a minor city.

Mineral Miner Complex I cost: 11 000 min.
Mineral Miner Complex I prod: 400 min.
Returns investment in 27 turns (2 years and 7 months)

So replicating a Homeworld in a colony its just not impossible, but non-profitable, which I think acurately simulate that many things a Homeworld have are not just for profit, but a product of social and cultural evolution.