Messages

I really like this idea, could add a lot to the game if executed right. This has my support.

Why not incorporate both? Perhaps have "basic" technologies, such as reinforcing doors or walls for example, be stuff that your colonists figure out on their own through the research table, while more advanced tech, like targeting computers for turrets or building reactors, be stuff that has to be downloaded from a comm network.

I have no idea how hard that might be to implement, however.