ok, this might be highly heretical, even for me but hear me out. Factorio is part of the Warhammer 40k universe! you, the engineer, are basically a stranded adeptus mechanicus, your assembly machines are technically STC's. you don't "research" directly, you just unlock the knowledge to build ...

Let us know if you are ready to become one with the machine at the usual places.

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me
I craved the strength and certainty of steel
I aspired to the purity of the Blessed Machine
Your kind cling to your flesh, as though it will not ...