I think there should be at least 2 different methods to represent technology and before the game starts all the players decide which method they should use. So now players would ask along with ‘do you want to play with RR?’ they’d ask ‘do you want to play with simple tech system (STS) or complex tech system (CTS)?’. The reason why you need more than just 1 technology option is because so many people want mutually exclusive aspects to their representation of technology… I don’t think it’s possible to make everybody happy with just 1 way to model technology.
1 method can be simple, like what it is in the box rules:
only 6 techs, same as the number of sides on a die.
no restrictions on when certain techs are available
you either have the tech or not (no stepwise system of gradually getting more and more tech bonuses in a certain field like jet fighters)
techs should have the same strength, no more super-weak techs like combined bombardment
IMO I think there should be no more individual tech just for long-range… make jet fighters also have long-range fighter movement. make heavy bombers also have long-range bomber movement. In the new void where long-range aircraft used to go, have industrial tech (see previous posts in other topics for IT) Substitute combined bombardment for radar (see previous posts in other topics for radar).
The 2nd method to techs can be more involved and more realistic. Involving more than 6 techs and including atomic weapons, etc…