"Your more efficient and smarter than before" - You are. You have faster belts, splitters/mergers, you have more efficient power options, even upgraded mines. That's your fault if you don't utilize the advantages.
"It could help with people's computers that aren't as fast and reduce the amount of machines required." - Gameplay shouldn't created around the concept that ther'll be people who have poor machines (and I feel your pain, I had a ~10yrs old rig just 2 months ago)
"Perhaps this will be included a research chain or specialization perk" - There is. It's called overclocking.