I guess the race is NOT made for a lengthy big game but for a fast paced game in a small universe with lots of expected early trouble?

Assuming this, the design looks very good.

Only finetune I'd suggest:
Cost of mines from 4 to 3. It's cheap race-pts-wise and mines can be built a rocking 25% cheaper/faster. Only spot where to scrab the pts from for this would be to tinker a bit with the habs.

Concerning your initial question about test beds and results: they work extremely bad for -f. And while economy is important also for a -f, in comparison to factory-races the quickstart ability and early tactical expansion of a -f is such a more important factor that it is v:ery difficult to measure and to compare.

About your research strat just one hint:
IMHO weap is prime even for the IT. And while the con-10-gates are great (and later on needed), you get along with the standard gates for quite a while. An IT can just do so much more with those standard gates than the other PRTs without having constant losses to the void.