How do you explain it?

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Not just TNG pulled that off, look at Enterprise; they start out with - of all things - missiles while the other races have particle beam weapons, much faster warp drives, large empires, very large ships..... The Vulcans even have tractor beams as opposed to Enterprises (of all possible things..... geez.....) grapple cannon. Romulans already used cloaking devices and advanced minefields, etc.

I think it is too much of a coincidence, too; I think it'd be better if, like in SEIII, you'll be able to select your starting techs in SEV.