I totally suspended progressing the tech-tree months ago, and the reason is the game feels more confused with every new 'guest race' intro. I need to go back and see if there is something new in the past chapters as the the tech-tree evolves, and I simply do not trust that the new stuff is the 'final' version. The latest changes prove that there was some fundamental flaws is the game design that had to be corrected - and there are probably more.
I play about half dozen of these browser-based games, and I never invest too much time, money or effort in any of them too soon. A lot of posters here are right about the fact that the players complaining the most and the loudest are those who invested too much, and maybe too soon.
I for one complain because I want a better video game. I guess most players complain for the same reason only they are not spelling it out as such. We want to play a game that is not in constant flux and have strong community with lots of features. The current FellowShip model, for example, is still too shallow and mostly meaningless.
I do not know what works for you, but IF you do not mind falling back on the Ranking scale you could kinda 'boycott' the game by camping out like I do, and just level your or your mate's AWs and collect goods. Stop progressing on the research tree, invest less emotionally and financially until you get over these imperfections in the game, they finally stabilize it to your liking, or you find something else to play.
Just some thoughts...