[Q]

The entire intel should be redesigned IMO. In SE IV intel is too much "all or nothing".

The cost of an intel project should not be automatically equal to the cost of counter intel to stop it.
The race abilities (characteristics, racial trait) of offensive intel and counter intel should be chosen seperately. In SE IV this is always parallel.
And finally intel projects should always have a (moddable) chance to fail even in the complete absence of counter intel (like PPP now).