Though I dont run Vista/Win7 I do know that the graphics can at times cause problems with the mods and have had some of these issues with Distant Stars as well (though not nearly as bad)

suggest cutting the graphics down to high and see if that works, it usually solves the problem

Not really, the issue is actually in the game code itself and the limits that are imposed. The devs, due to a tight budget and desire to keep the game easy to operate ironically, set very tight limits to the game, and many mods break those limits. As such many of the issues we have that are solved by setting the graphics down is usually pointed at that.

Hopefully they will do something about this with either Diplomacy or maybe make a Sins 2

Not really, we at the Distant Stars are actually looking forward to it

for the joy of doing it,

believe me when I say that Distant Stars was a work of love, and we enjoyed/hated every minute of it

sad I know

true, true though some would think it was sad, but I have enjoyed myself

That's true scratch. Most of the minidumps I've had with mods are wierd things with the Battlefleet Gothic Mod (might have to run it through Harpo's updater again), or problems with my coding of entities.