[raynor]

When you blockaded the AI homeworlds, how many battles did you end up fighting with your CSM1 equipped escorts?

I only fought, perhaps, two battles. The rest of the time, I moved my ship into orbit around homeworlds with NO ships defending. If I had to go up against the planetary defenses, I would surely have lost. But by simply pressing 'End turn' thirty times in a row, Voila! I was blockading their planet.

So, I don't think it would matter if everyone had to first research missiles before they could use them or not, I think the root problem is that you shouldn't be allowed to blockade the planet until you've won a battle in that sector--i.e. defeat the planetary defences.