The benefits for neutral that I know off are:

Neutral learning center - pretty nice research labs

Neutral trading - Improved trade

A couple of diplomacy bonus techs?

All tiles on your planet will be usable instantly once you research the necessary terraforming techs.

I'm not sure about the weapon techs, I guess the description is wrong there, but maybe I just never noticed that some of the techs I had are due to allignment. If they exist they are certainly less noticeable than for good or evil.

You're right about that.

Also, isn't there a econ bonus, too?

Thanks for your responses! Yeah the other bonuses for neutral are very good. I especially love those Neutrality Learning Centers. However, I guess the weapon and defensive techs were a misprint. Here is what it says in the manual:

Citizens are more content and an approval bonus applies.

Gain a discount when you directly purchase a ship

instead of build it.

Upgradeable tiles are instantly made available.

A bonus is applied to ground invasions against all nonneutral

alignments.

Unique technologies include additional weapons and

defensive technologies.

I put the reference in bold. Oh, well. Neutral is still awesome. Have fun out there!