[Suicide Junkie]

Apparently, SE4 gives each component/tech/etc a unique ID when it loads the files. You can see this if you re-order the first three tech areas. Rock-homeworld races are hard coded to get one free level of the first tech area. similarily with ice and gas.
If you add components to the beginning of you components file, and load a saved game, you will notice that all your components changed. Your design has "6 component #32s" but component #32 is no longer ion engine I, but is a WMG III, say.

The only problem you may have is with AI, choosing the latest component in the file instead of a better component that appears at the beginning.
It may be best to insert components beside similar ones, in order of value to the AI, and warn that it is incompatible with other saved games.