I have to agree with SJ.
One of the current games I am playing on PBW. I went for three racial techs just to see if it would be possible to survive. There are about 20 players in the game.
I have an agreement with one player for basic tech for special ships. Two other players that have racial techs I have agreements with for researching.
The net effect so far has been Two RTs maxed out and a third 3/4s of the way there. My only research has been in one RT. Yet my race is one of the most advanced in the game even with basic techs.
All it took was some major Rping and Diplomacy.
