Well, we can "discuss" it all night...
...but looking at it as if it were me:
I would need to research Religious tech AND I'd need to get my Ions up to 3's, ships up to destroyers, I'd need some weapons (DUC 4 at least), and surely I'd need mines (to help stave off the attacks). Let's not forget PDs. Now, in case I'm under attack (as ANY person daring to take the Talisman should be
), I'll need off/def components. At least the 1st level of each. Those are the bare minimums, as I see it. That's a bit of research to take away from my Religious studies. Considering it's 1 person every 5 systems...I've got a neighbor who won't like me because I might be studying Religious stuff that I'll meet in 5 turns (or so).
And I always have to think about this: That any player I meet will already have met someone else...and THIS guy will say to his other "friend", "Hey, I need to do something that will benefit both of us...get rid of this Religious guy before he becomes dangerous. Give me a hand or let's agree to a treaty and borders while I take care of him."
Nope, give me "straight" stuff any day in this kind of game. I won the first round of another tourney (forget the name...but it never continued to the second round) with 4 other people. One of them had the Talisman. I opened up on him with fleets of 20-30 battleships in 4 - 5 different areas at a time. Yes, he hit but I swamped him!
Well, I'm not that great of a player so I guess I'd never chance it. I suppose it could be done by a very good player. Mark or Primitive might be able to pull it off but Rex, Asmala, etc., the really good players will not bother, methinks.