Bear in mind a few things when it comes to crowns, which is one reason I have not yet made adjustments:
1. The AI races are going SUPER easy on you at the moment, because they don't have their full logic in yet. So is the planet, when it comes to planet rage. So when that kicks in more properly, you're going to need that money a lot more.
2. Diseases still being the main issue and wiping the floor with you is not intended. Savegames on mantis where you are right at the point where a disease is about to mop you up would be _greatly_ appreciated. I can then use that to repeatedly test what happens vs what I think should happen, and get the balance where I want it. Without that sort of savegame, I'm shooting a lot more in the dark. I've survived plenty of diseases in a generalized sense, so getting to see specific problem cases from the very start would be invaluable.
3. Similarly, specific cases of pollution being nuts is something that I'd want to take a look at. I doubt it's a bug, but it may need either some balancing or some explaining.