Yes indeed, that should be included also. Plus the "harvesting" of the freebee-techs of the scientific AIs, which more or less goes into the same direction.I do think that you've missed one useful generally applicable tip though:
Try to get the AI to do research for you. Avoid researching techs that they will probably research first and then trade for those technologies.
Good point. Never thought of this before...!If you are really having trouble paying for the last few lux resources, you can pillage your own luxes so that you are buying luxes that only give 1 happy face. Then re-road your own.