LOL, like when the hell is that supposed to happen?  Next lifetime?

The next patch, whenever that may be.  Obviously nothing else is getting changed until the next patch, as well.

Most of us have been asking for a buff to their skirmisher and navigator units.  This would give them the early-game edge they currently need.  Once they reach late-game, Vasari are quite powerful and if anything might need to be toned down.  If it goes late enough Vasari are probably the most powerful faction thanks to phase stabilizers, the kostura, their powerful support cruisers, their offensive starbasing, and let's not forget those crazy phase missiles.

Yes, major change.  Caps got buffs in last patch.  See patch change notes.

Carrier caps are overpowered in the early game now (say the first 20 minutes).  I don't think that holds true beyond the early game when people will have flak frigates and perhaps carrier frigates (or their own carrier caps, as 2nd or 3rd caps) out in the field.  So what we've been seeing are double Halcyon and double Sova rushes.  (Vasari Skinatra rushes, not so much because the Skinatra is probably the worst of the three carrier caps.)

I've been going back to some more traditional openers lately:  colony-caps and Marza and Kortul in particular.  The problem I find is that if I do get hit by a carrier rush, I'm at such a huge disadvantage because those caps are so blinkin powerful and difficult to counter.  Carrier cruisers really don't compete with them, especially if you need to be jumping around, since their antimatter regenerates super slowly and is required to replace strike craft.

I like the new power of the carrier caps, but unfortunately it's just too much early-game when carrier cruisers are prohibitive and you can't field enough flaks to act as a counter (maybe if they're massing fighters, but bombers?  Forget about it).

I'd agree, hangers and turrets need buffing.  In fact, that might solve all the problems right then and there.

For hangers, a cost decrease and an antimatter regeneration buff is in order.  Currently (particularly the Advent variety) they cannot even fill their initial squad capacity because they run out of antimatter.  Considering you will need tactical upgrades to deploy these on planets and they're easily killed if not protected, they deserve to be priced reasonably. 

For turrets... I think a range increase would be the best way to improve these guys.  A cost decrease could also work, but I'd rather see them have a better range.  I've actually ran turret-based strategies before, and I can tell you that the biggest problem with getting them to work isn't cost (though that is an issue with anything) but rather their range.  It's all about the amount of area protected by your turret farm, and a little range bonus can add a lot of protected area, which is critical.

I don't think the "nerf" of turrets vs light frigates is substantial.  The problem has always been turrets vs long range frigates and bombers.  Certainly no one in their right mind will charge a turret/repair formation without decisive force.  If hangers get buffed, then a turret/hanger/repair bay combo should be largely impregnable early game... and may finally give the adjudicator a use to break these multi-structure defenses.

If you're actually in a situation like that, it means you've already won the game and are just goofing around before you get around to finishing the AI. 

Fleet sizes like these never happen in multiplayer, even on multistar maps.  If one team has this sort of power, then they're either on the cusp of winning or the enemy team is going to surrender as soon as they realize how outmatched they are.  If both teams have this sort of power, they're going to cause massive casualties to each other and there will be plenty of places to spend that money.

Without entrenchment?  Just send a strike force with plenty of bombers up his flanks and start blasting structures.  With sufficient squads, you can kill most structures instantly, then move on to the next well before his fleet can catch up.  It's easy to go on a late-game rampage in vanilla and just smash stuff up.  Damage his economy enough and there's no way he will be able to keep that crazy income.  If his upkeep is high, around 75%, it's really easy to deal enough damage to cause him to collapse.

I understand not having time to play online.  I myself have sporadic commitments throughout the day and usually play later in the evening.