[Slick]

It doesn't take large numbers of transports to do this. These transports can each undome a planet every turn or two as they move through the empire. One transport can easily take care of a few systems in a short number of turns. I don't consider these few transports to really affect ship production. Also, any cargo-carrying ship can be used to support this effort - carriers, mine layers, etc.

Obtaining the most combat power means that you must have the economy to support it. I believe that I should always be limited by mineral production. If I make more minerals, I should always be able to put them to use at a spaceyard. Being limited by spaceyards, or other resources means to me that I could be more efficient. Like the AI says: "Mineral Planets are the best." Balancing production and construction is vitally important, but the bottom line is that there must be enough resources to support the construction effort for your military. If leveraged properly, the empire with the strongest economy should be the strongest militarily.

edit: much slower than SJ, as usual.