I can 100% recommend trying CE at least once, but it is a pretty harsh learning curve. You learn the true terror that one person with a hand gun can achieve if none of your colonists are properly defended.

Mechanoids is fun for the factories and you can turn the ships off. I tried it with them enabled at first and it was such a pain I haven't turned it back on since.

Hey! Yeah that was me, been playing the hell out of Rimworld (again) in the past few days, and figured if the OG sub was going down for a few days/indefinite may as well try to get something going here.

Depends on your stats. As long you're not interested in chemicals, a pyromaniac, or lazy, you'll fit right in.