Put weapons research before fleet expansion

In this assessment, staff weapons are instruments of intimidation rather than consistently effective weapons of war, and the same criticism applies to their larger ship-mounted relatives. Their destructive effects vary with the story, making them a poor foundation for a force intended to win dependable military results. The Goa'uld technology base is largely scavenged from other civilizations and modified over centuries, which helps explain its accumulated imperfections. Long-lived rulers may have time to sponsor investigation, but they still cannot personally conduct all the research a modern force requires. A lasting advantage therefore needs institutions that pursue original work instead of leaving innovation to minor lords who hope to use a discovery against their superiors.