how much does AI cheat at research on Transcend?

[bvanevery]

I really should find out the answer to this, and I think modders might know the answer to this.

In thousands of games that I've played, the Believers are consistently a "technology stunted" faction.  Their -2 Research is reflected in the amount of tech progress they make as a faction.  Doesn't matter how big they get, they will always do worse at tech than a normal or bonus Research faction of the same size.  It's pretty obvious to see over the long haul, they never wiggle out of sucking at tech.  You steal a few techs from the Believers, and you will always be caught up with them.

Not so with the Drones!  They have -2 Research, yet in game after game I've played against them, they are often capable of excellent tech research.  Sometimes they stagnate, but it is far more frequent for them to just pull techs out of their ass.  I've seen them go Fundamentalst Free Market Power, which would be giving them -4 Research, yet they'll tool along like they're the Gaians!  No way that Free Market should be giving them that kind of oomph.

Is Domai specifically cheating?  Do factions on Transcend have starting bonuses, that Domai is particularly equipped to exploit?  What gives?

I've often been playing against Domai with Aki Zeta-5, who has +2 Research.  So this research disparity is really glaring.  It shouldn't be easy for a crippled research faction to run at the same speed as me.