I guess they've pulled the Beta forum down so I'll report this here.  I've noticed in this latest version of the Beta (don't have the number handy but it's the last beta)  that an old bug has popped up again.  Minor races are again either starting out with or rapidly developing the end game technologies. For exampe, in a game when most players are still using lasers, the Akilians and even the Vegans who had just entered the sector, already had zero point armor and aeron missile defense.  I hope this is not working as intended.