Agree, better put colonies is some closer to core, with huge amount of planets with all resources for self-sufficiency and self deffensive options, or other system with such conditions. Considering to all benefits whith player can look for colonies, benefits of cryosleepers are insignificant, i see that in all my games.
Just take a look, creasleepers should have some engine, yes? Let us move them, ufter some engine rapairs or so on, expansive and time consuming, or some way how to take it in tow by our fleet to put it where we like.
If it wiil to stay how it is now, it ssems crepolseepers should remain useless, it just exsits, no more.
Add: just take a look how it warks now. Look for some system with 5+ planets wuth all resources, for example i got system with 10 planets, settle all of them, manage all of them by alfas, itstall alfas it all structures, build military base and starfortress at each, and we have huge amount patrols and military fleets in that system, each stable lokation, jump point are guarding by 5-10 patrol fleets, if some one are raiding or attacking one planet all patrols fly to help with defending, one momens i saw about 20 patrol fleets where helping in defending of colony, also, about 20 fleets where flew for reinforcement, so such system is unbeateble. To all this you have all producrion in one system (10 planets, okey, i have 6 heavy industries for constructiong for my fleet), also, i have income about 3millions per month, no needs to make more, just one system is enought and you are god. Now compare with system with 2-3 planet, but with creosleeper, the main problem is that such systems seems to be not become unbeateble, less amount of colonies = less system military power, patrols from other systems will not help. So, cryosleeper? No tnx.