this has been mentioned many times before, the guidebook lets the survey module be added for free to any ship (if i remember correct, and depending on how fast you research it depends on if there are anomalies left) and the deal with the privateer, is (most people here think, after lots of tests and confusion) that it doesnt protect the ship itself but it protects the route, so if somebody destoryed the ship it would start over, and if it got destroyed again, then you would get the so and so deems it no longer proftiable and it has been cancelled, so you lose the route then, but if you have the privateer the route wont get cancelled like that, the ship will just start over again each time it is destroyed.

By the time the wonder appears, the entire universe has already been surveyed, so its pointless to build it.

Well Survey modules in mid to late game aren't totally useless, they do increase a ships sensor range. I suppose if a computer beat you to building Eyes of the Universe (or whatever it's called) then this might be a little helpful.

I have not seen any defect in the space availiable for componet use if the survey module is added for free, I mean the numbers don't seem to change or anything.

I'm not sure if the Guidebook itself increases sensor range but maybe the survey module has that bonus to it this is over turnned when you build the Eyes of the Universe because sensors are to the max they can get in that case.

I tend to build this just because I hate having eveyone else building these before me and it gives some planet like you manufacturing capital something to do since just about every other square is already filled. I would like to see it decrease sensor size so i can make a accually effective scout ship I hate having to spend tons of money on a cargo sensor ship when i can build a small scout for less money and still keep an eye on my enemies.