Circuit Imprinter cost is 30 Sulphuric acid, which is prohibitively high for no good reason
Created by: 9600bauds
Let's assume two types of Scientist/Mechanic/Derelict MoMMI, the one that builds their own chemdispenser, and the one that asks Chemistry for acid (hah)
If you ask Chemistry for acid: A large beaker's worth of acid will only last you 3 prints. You're looking at pretty constant refills, unless you can convince the Chemist to make you 600 units in pills or something (which is far from a given). Inbetween refills, chances are you're just gonna make a chemdispenser anyways.
If you build your own chemdispenser: You absolutely HAVE to make the chemdispenser first thing, because you only have enough starter acid for ONE print. As if both the tedium of R&D being so rigid and the tedium of having to build the chemdispenser practically every shift weren't both repetitive enough, this limitation forces even less variation and even less flexibility into R&D by making it so that you can't just print that thing you need and build the chemdispenser later, you HAVE to build it first. This is especially bad for Derelict MoMMIs, if you want a printed circuit you gotta get the chemdispenser first, even though you already have R&D maxed anyways.
There's no real gameplay or balance argument for this type of rigidness. If you wanted to encourage Scientists to ask for acid instead of making a chemdispenser, you could lower circuit costs AND lower the starting acid, to make it a more appealing option. If you think Scientists making a chemdispenser is fine, then there's still no reason they should have to make it first thing, let them print 2-3 things before having to make one.
If nothing else, please just give derelict MoMMIs a little bit more acid, damn