TerranC, I wouldn't want to unbalance the game, or make a complete line of tech obsolete.
The detonators(Megnetic\Kinetic), good idea.
Instead of using a huge amount of supplies, might be a problem with the quantum reactor.
How about
:
A certian number of uses per component.
Limited number of the component.
Use it once and then it is depleted.
And still allow for a random chance of mines hitting the ship.
What do you think of something like that?