I'd like to get some opinions on planets ... Basically, I have a ton of open slots but invasion costs are up there and only growing. So, I'd like to know what you take, and why.

I have VL+, 15x Planets that get me more than 500 production per hour on a single resource and I have Avg, R+ plents that get anywhere from 100-150 from a single resource. In the grand scheme of things, if noone would ever bother trying to take an average sized planet wouldn't it better in the long term to have a full planet list of those since 5 average that would never get taken would net 500-750 resources vs a highly contested 15x that only gains 500? Also, worth noting, from a purely numerical stand point those 5 average have a total of 225 space vs the 57 on a VL.

Thoughts, comments, sarcastic remarks?

5 15x mega's (the same amount of slots) would net you 2500 resources.

Certainly would, but does anyone in the game have max planets at their level and all of them are 15x+?

Some high level players probably do i would imagine many dysos do.

it's possible theortically... because u will end up(eventually) being able to kill more than 20 TO carriers per 4 ranks.....(when exp bar is long enough) so you can get 15x mega indefintely always....
but... I doubt that is possible now...
if anyone have all 15x mega now, they either spent $ or they have empty planet slots

Or maybe both

It really depends on where you are in the game.

At my level (900+), I make enough minerals that I cap in under 6 hours (and don't have to be builder), enough AP that I cap in just over 8 hours and enough rp that I cap in just over 6 hours.

I have 20+ slots open. At this point, I will take small if 1x mega or better, average is mega or better, large if ultra or better or VL ER or better.

If the planet is average or less, I don't bother defending it. (Yes I have an undefended tiny planet that makes 200 resources per hour). If these planets get taken, they get taken. It just means the next one I take will be cheaper. Most high levels won't take a average or smaller from you (unless they are spiting you) because to defend it, they won't get enough production and they are a waste of a flux. (Some decent AVG I might put 1 defense structure on just to keep really low levels off it).

At some point, capping becomes a real problem (my problem now). If I could fill my slots, my mineral cap would have an extra 10k and my artie, 20k.