With doubling of the absorption values and lowering kinetic weapon shield penetratrion to 50%-60% it turns out that shields are 100% efficient against kinetic weapons just as they are against energy weapons.

Let's take T2 white shield which is the most basic shield.

68 energy defense means the shield will absorb up to 68/hull weakness of hull HP. For small ship that's 68%

Even if we lower that by 60% for missiles penetration we get 27%

405 shield capacity is less than 27% of small hull HP so the shield will run out of HP before it will get killed by missiles.

Other shields have much better absorption/HP ratio so it will be even more effective on higher techs.

This means shields are universal defense that works equally well against energy and kinetic weapons.

Also the power to shields tactic is 100% useless because you will always get 100% shield efficiency no matter what without even trying.

Why were the penetration values for kinetic weapons lowered to 50-60%?

So it wasn't like this in the G2g Balance Mod? No one noticed this before?

Arrgghhh! Wanted to play my first game in Galactic Statecraft with no major combat imbalances. 

I'll just put it on hold again...

Bombers have 60% armor penetration too and high tech shield absorption is high enough to absorb not insignificant damage from bombers even with 90% penetration.