Formula for productivity? Relevance of population?

[couslee]

yea. starting a plant with 1m population is no different than when it has 99m.

Since the room for a single cargo unit on a colony ship does not carry enough to make the first bonus mark, perhaps that slot would be better used for something else or left empty. your going to make a city bus anyway.
I havn't checked the math out yet, but you might get more growth colonizing with one than with 34. The turn after you have 2 or more. if that is the same amount as when you have 34 then the percentages don't match. howbiet a minimal difference.