ALL: Btw, the only mod I made was in the components file. Family 11008 was shared by Living CPU and External Cargo Pod, so I changed living CPU to family 11011.
And no, PF, this didn't solve the problem.
I just spent 4 hours making tweaks to the design file and components file to see if I could figure out the multiple LCPU. No joy.
Interestingly, if I changed the LCPU compnent to a component identical to the Master Computer in the original game (but with the same tech as the LCPU), the AI started using bridges and the rest!
One thing that did NOT work (and I was sure it would) was making the LCPU a required component and not a miscellaneous ability. Sigh...
Will keep at it, as soon as I can figure another approach.