Well, I don't see the issue here, if you like a simpler game, play Sins of a Solar Empire vanilla.  I would say you are probably alone or near alone in wanting to see a smaller tech tree with fewer options.  Sins of a Solar Empire from the get go had a steeper learning curve but allowed the player to have more options then the other RTS out there that were simple spamfests that ended in 25-30 minutes.  I also think that the game is really not that complex.  I hear many people on ICO (Ironclad Online) remark that the best thing about Sins is that it is slower then most RTS so you can take time to think about each decision instead of just twitch playing where only sheer APM (actions per minute).  This said, the complexity can be managed and is not truly "overwhelming" once you have played 5-10 games.

I think majority of additions made the game better and richer than the vanilla was, the only thing i am not sure about is diplomacy. I mean, diplomacy brought some good things like pacts, but in general, i think, it was a step in a wrong direction. I know the devs are trying to create RT4X game, but as i see it, its always going to end up primarily RTS game, spiced with those 4X elements, but not true hybrid, because IMHO its never going to be good/deep/complex/slow enough for the hardcore 4xers. While for seasoned RTS gamer like me, its nice alternative to all those StarCrafts, i just do not see any reason for things like diplomatic victory, because i play the game for its epic space-battles, not to win it by being given some random points for good diplomatic relations.

Figured I'd put out the post and see if anyone agreed. I lean much more towards tactical real time games and strategic turn based games. Relatedly, I find that when a single match requires multiple uninterrupted hours it's very hard to schedule. Asynchronous games (of any complexity level) or simple 15-20 minute games usually get around this issue.

Actually I suppose I should straight up ask. Is there a tactical fleet only mod to Sins? Or, and don't shoot me for asking, is there a DOTA style mod to Sins (similar to Stellar Impact, I guess)?

For Exampel SC2 is more complex then sins and gives you more options to play the game.

It depends on what lvl you experience playing this both games i guess.

I can compare both games, have over 6 k games in sc2. SINS is more a macro oriented game where micro is less important and there even not that much mico potenzial avaibel.

The APM is one part of RTS games and also an important one.

higher  SPEED then your opponent = you get more stuff done then your opponent.

more intel, more macor, more micro, more strategie done...you can compare it with an artist that gets his picture what he has in mind faster painted on the paper.

APM is just a further measure for skill that where added to others like strategie, macro-, microabbilities, gamesens..... that alrdy exist in RTS games.

Sins players dont need that APM becuase it dont fall that much into weight in games that goes 3 hours.

But what helps you to manage that all in Sins is using Hotkeys and  getting more experience. If you alrdy knew how you have to react on a special situation ingame, the easier it is to execute  becuase you dont need to think about every detail, you alrdy knew it.

The game macro wont challenge you that much anymore and you will be abel to focus on important parts like strategie and your opponent.

hmmmm  you need to distinguish between effizient apm and usless apm.

good players have a real apm around 150 and higher for exampel Boxer or Bomber (south korea)

some players try to reach this goal with usless spamming but thats not a goal someone shoud aim for.

Stellar impact was a bunch of fun. I do enjoy just flying a spaceship about and torpedoing stuff. But now it is in the middle of converting over to being on Steam. I wouldn't pick it up until it's officially released over there.