@Sarisin
You don't always get water tiles. You always get *some* flat land. Exploration is important, but after you establish some sort of commerce income. Roads don't help with commerce so they are a secondary consideration. The ones who don't get a starting tech are the barbarian civs (I think they should get a tech too). Crafting is good, like I said, if you have wine or gold(if you have a lot of either of these two, it's actually overpowered). Otherwise it is a liability, even if you are going for RoK because 9 commerce per turn isn't going to get you there any time soon (ancient chants is also on the path to early religions). Researching Cartography is fine too... after you have some sort of commerce income, which usually requires cottages. Otherwise you will not have an economy which means no further research and no expansion.
You make some good points, Ringtailed.
The point I was trying to make with the Fishing example is that mainly two things determine which way you will go with research:
1. Civ you are playing
2. Starting position
For example, I am certain in the case of the ai elves and dwarves it is hardwired that they pursue a path towards FOL and ROK religion founding no matter what (that they get a little help along the way with goodie huts cannot be proven, but, I say it happens
) However, when I am playing one of those civs, I may or may not pursue the same path.
Also, your success with goodie huts or lack thereof (I seem to get just maps Monarch and above!) might influence your research. If I am lucky enough to pop Mysticism and Hunting, I just might try to beat the elves to FOL.
I do agree with your point that every civ should have a starting tech. That levels the playing field. Of course, I suppose, for those who do not, they may be compensated in some other way.
I guess it is all up to your personal playing style. I usually put researching Education on the back burner in favor of things like Cartography or even Calendar/Festivals. Again, I may adjust my strategy depending on the civ and starting position I get - I always let the computer randomly select for me.
One reason I go for Cartography and Pact of the Nilhorn is that I always play raging barbs/aggAI and need those Three Stooges. They usually seem to come just about the time the raging barbs do. If I postponed Cartography in favor of Education, I might lose those pretty cottages, villages, etc. to the barb hoards. Moe, Larry, and Curley are also great using their HN status to go out and pillage those commerce-income generators of the AI.
I enjoyed reading your ideas.