Minors...Too trash or to trade?

from Stardock Forums
I have been following several past threads that talk alot about the ways of dealing with minors.I have come to the conclusion that there are only 3 ways of dealing with them.

1)To use as a trade partner so that no other major can gain the benefits of the added income from you.This tactic will usually help the minors survive alittle longer into the game and get decent planets built up before either you or the AI will take them out.Hopefully me.Also at early stage of game they seem to have a few techs you can get cheaper or a couple trade goods that are much cheaper than trading the majors for.I will also protect the couple that I deem worthy of such attention by forming an alliance when the time is right.

2)Take them out as soon as possible so that the other majors never get the chance.Then this leaves you with the only option of trading with the majors who hopefully will have better relations with you.Then by end game your economy starts to hurt because of a lack of trading partners.This can also lead to an alliance if played out properly and then an easier time of putting culture bombs right in their home sectors.You can also use these newly acquired worlds as culture bombs on their own to get a foothold into another sector or part of the map as long as they don't flip to the AI.

3)Interference runners between you and the other major civs.By this I mean resorting to getting the minor to declare war against a major and you sitting back and waiting for the major to break down the defenses of the minor and then the human swooping in for the kill shot and getting a nice juicy planet or two.

i have tried all three tactics but was wondering if anyone else had any decent strats to try with minors?
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
There is another use, I managed to nuture the Carnoids by giving them some planets, tech and a hugh fleet then sent them against the friendly Altarians.

Ends up the Carnoids cleaned up the Altarian fleet and ended up out teching them. All I had to do was keep them fighting. Now that the Altarians were weak I moved in my fleet, declared war... demanded techs... then took the Altarians over. I used the Carnoids as a secondary fleet feeding them to break the majors. I also shared any tech with them and traded with them of course.

Must admit I like the Carnoids best out of the minors...

~SDC~
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I keep mine to do trade with and if at any time I have to take them out I can easily.

~SDC~
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
you can make a lot of money selling old techs to minors.

When I'm getting low on cash, I can usually come up with a quick 1000 or 2000 credits from selling off techs to minors.

Also, giving finanances, weapons, and techs to minors who are the enemy of your enemy can help bog your enemy down, much like Vietnam or Iraq.

Trading partners of course.

And if your behind on tech, sometimes you can buy a lot of tech from minors, especially if they have had the spy on other major event.

I've had games where certain minors actually had a huge impact, even without my help. In one, the I-Leage formed, and starsystems all over the galaxy kept defecting. They got so big and powerful I had to ally with the Torian Confed to take them out, and it was a long and hard war I tell you.