Atraikius,
oops, I didn't mention that it was a full-tech game, did I? I was testing a new AI for the Cue Cappa that I have been writing and thought I might as well put the Zorians in and check them out.
Anyway, the BB (1st rate class) uses scatter armor as well as the BA (Cardinal class) and they have no room for other stuff except PDC. They do have Quantum Reactors, but not ECM as "must have". Smaller classes (BC) also use scatter armor and do not have room for PDC or QR.
Even if the AI doesn't research armor4 until the late game, it might still be a good idea to add armor as a misc. ability. Otherwise it might screw up your designs in the mid-game, if they get armor4 some other way (ruin, gift, trade). I have seen this on one of the TDM races (don't remember which one) as well. They found armor4 in a ruin and really screwed up the designs. I reported that to the author and I believe it is fixed now. "Unwanted" tech and full-tech is something you have to keep in mind when making the designs, IMHO. Using armor as a misc. ability after the most important components have been added, should take care of that. If you use nothing else to "fill up" your designs (I like to do that with either supplies or PDC), you could even put armor Last in the list just like S_J suggested.
Whew, sorry about the lengthy post
.
Rollo