Jupp. While i´m new to the game, and enjoyed my time so far greatly, the strategic aspect of the game lacks stuff Nexerelin (and one or two other mods) seem to add; A more dynamic sector, and actually being able to wage proper war and conquest.
And now i´m in the position, that i´d love to play starsector, because i enjoy the game, yet i don´t want to exhaust my fondness for the game.
Sure, i could, and did, create a nice cluster of colonies. That´s fun. But right now it´s just bankrolling the acquisition of more supplies and fuel and making me less relient on expeditions to the far reaches. With Nexerelin those colonies could be the start of my own empire, finance actual conquest and serve strategic purposes.
Right now i could destabilize planets and kill a few fleets of enemy X; But without Nexerelin, and factions waging actual war, this will have no lasting effect, this will not actually have "repercussions" for the subject of my sabotage.
But i´m used for some games having "essential" mods, and thus also for the inevitable wait after a new version comes out. I´m glad and thankful for modders.