Factorio Forums

Different people and different issues.
The other thread is complaining about ratios. The number of assemblers to do X is different from Y.
This thread is complaining about game pace. The amount of effort required to reach X is different from reaching WYZ.
They're pretty different topics.

Keep in mind that the "number of resources" required to reach a goal is not the same as the "amount of effort". Unlocking a new tier of science is a hurdle of effort. Unlocking all the topics inside that tier is fairly trivial once the new science potions start flowing. A lot of pacing is going to be subjective too, because a player's first time learning new recipes, belts, pipes etc. is going to be a much steeper climb than the second and tenth time around.

If there was some sink other than research for resources ...

If the game's giving you so much time to tinker that everything starts to feel a bit pointless, one thing's sure: you've mastered the biter challenge at your current settings. Try cranking them up some if you want an alternate resource-and-attention sink.

I just started a singleplayer (dangerores) with a nice science multiplier. I really enjoy it, since i can finally keep up with my research. i suggest try a game with a x10 science multiplier. Getting your first assembler is a bitch, but after that, the game pace is great