I occasionally read, on the web, recommendations to get the food replicators technology, but never with an explanation of why. Here is an example:
Custom race: Lithovore, Creative, Low Gravity, -50% Growth, +1 Industry or science (what ever suits you best)
... And now for the best part of this little trick. When you get the opportunity to get Food replicator DO IT! (Note you cannot research it your self so you have to steal or trade for it hence you are creative so you have tech to trade)
Anyone have an idea what the trick part of this "trick" is?
To me, food replicators have always seemed overpriced (only 1 food for a whole 2 production plus 10 in maintenance at that) just to have emergency food. Perhaps at high production bonuses, the freed up farmers more than make up for it, provided you install food replicators everywhere AND then stop farming entirely? Would that really be worth it? Perhaps it's not a trick at all but some bug exploit, something that only applies to a lithovore race?
I'd love to be enlightened. Thanks.