[Beck]

True, but if time is that critical and the fleet is of decent size and ability, you're not building small ships either. You're probably pumping out fighters given the number you can produce in a short period of time verses very small ships the time would allow. The claim was that the size as well as cost was a problem in small ships and I find it is only the cost that the size is equal or less than that you would have in bridge, life support and crew components once you get past the MC I. The actual cost different is less than one turn with the higher tech SYs. With wastage due to being only to build one ship in a turn, at times and depending on the ship design, there is no different in the construction time at all. I usually factor that in the decision process as to whether to build small ships at all and what to include.